While COVID cases in Riley County have been trending evenly over the past few months, an upward tick is starting to trend.
Speaking to the county commission Thursday, Public Information Office Alice Massimi says cases are starting in increase again, more than likely due to the variant strains.
Massimi and the health department have been seeing an increase in calls and questions related to the variant strains.
There have been six breakthrough cases in the county, with vaccinated individuals testing positive for the variants. Massimi says those individuals were reporting mild symptoms due to them being vaccinated.
Commission Chair John Ford says he feels there are more people refusing to get vaccinated, rather than on the fence. Massimi says one of the constant excuses she continues to hear is time off to get vaccinated.
As of Thursday morning, there are seven people with COVID hospitalized, with three in the Intensive Care Unit. There has not been any information released about the age group of those individuals. Only one of the individuals in the hospital was vaccinated.
