Area vaccination site ready, waiting on supply

Vaccination efforts are continuing in the region as Bakersfield College has been designated a vaccine site.

It is unclear whether there is enough of the vaccine to give everyone.

As of Tuesday, Feb. 2, Kaiser Permanente is only giving the vaccine out to health care workers and adults over the age of 75. There is also a large vaccination center at the Kern County Fairgrounds. Vanguard in Wasco has been giving out vaccinations during the past week; however, Wasco’s Adventist Health does not have the vaccine. Omni Health in Shafter is open for vaccinations and Vanguard is waiting on the supply of the vaccine.

On Tuesday, Feb. 2, state officials reported Wasco had a total of 4,724 residents that have tested positive for the virus. This means an additional 245 residents tested positive in one week’s time. That is up from the week before of 126 new positive tests. Of that 4,724, 1,427 have recovered from the virus while last week 1,193 had recovered. Currently there are 1,557 who are presumed recovered increasing that number from 1,061.

The Wasco Union High School and Elementary School districts sent out a letter to all parents, students, teachers and staff members that in-class school will not reopen for the remainder of the current school year. Both the high school and the elementary school district do allow some special needs — no access to Wifi or hot spots, some special education and students who need extra help with staying motivated — into the classroom. The students are all safely spaced and everyone must wear a mask in class.

Bakersfield College and Cal State University, Bakersfield will continue with distance learning through the end of the school year.

On Tuesday, Feb. 2, state officials reported a total of 3,142 Shafter residents have tested positive since the pandemic began and 1,193 have recovered. This is up by 130 new cases since last week. The number for presumed recovered is 1,283.

Shafter and Wasco have both been utilizing outdoor dining, and barbershops and hair salons have been open for business since Gov. Gavin Newsom reopened the state a week ago.