By PHYLLIS ZORN

Staff writer

With 71 new COVID-19 cases in Marion County over this past week, it’s no surprise so many Marion Middle School students were quarantined that schools had to close Friday and the district changed its attendance policy.

Kansas Department of Health and Environment reported the highest numbers during the week were Nov. 1, with 21 cases; Nov. 4, with 19 cases; and Nov. 10, with 10 cases.

The county health department reported 73 active cases in the county as of Monday with three hospitalized.

The county’s confirmed death total, often updated weeks after deaths, now stands at 32.

Only three days since COVID cases have been counted has Marion County peaked higher than Nov. 1. Those days were the 2021 peak of Jan. 4, with 27 cases; Oct. 30, 2020, with 22 cases; and Nov. 9, 2020, with 23 cases.

Centre school district remains on the state’s active cluster list with 11 cases within the last 14 days and the last symptom onset date of Oct. 24.

Cluster reports are updated on Wednesdays only, so reports frequently lag behind actual development.

A Moderna booster vaccination clinic is being offered from 8 a.m. to noon and 1 to 5 p.m. today at Hillsboro Mennonite Brethren Church, 300 Prairie Pointe.

Appointments were accepted online or by calling the health department.

Pfizer and Johnson & Johnson boosters may be scheduled by calling the health department.

People may mix or match for boosters.

People who had their primary Pfizer or Moderna COVID-19 vaccine series six months ago or longer are eligible to have a booster if they are 65 or older.

People 18 and older qualify if they are residents of long-term care facilities or are at increased risk for COVID-19 exposure and transmission because of occupational or institutional settings.

People 18 and older who got J&J vaccines two months or longer ago are qualified to get booster shots.

People getting booster shots at the health department will need to present an insurance card if they have one so the health department can bill for administration of the shot. The shot itself is free even without insurance.