Each week, the Ellsworth County Independent-Reporter sets aside space on Page A1 to give our readers the most recent information on COVID-19. It’s something we’ve done since the pandemic started more than a year ago

Since a vaccine was discovered and started flowing into the county on a relatively regular basis, the number of reported COVID-19 cases has plummeted. Now we come to this week.

The information box on Page A1 tells the story. Three new cases were reported his past week, putting the county back in the red. That is not good news.

That means on a scale with blue as the lowest and red as the highest, Ellsworth County is in the high zone, according to the local health department.

We suspect it also means more residents need to get a coronavirus shot to protect themselves — and others — from getting sick.

COVID is not done with us. There are still doctors to see, vaccines to get. The more we take precautions to stop the spread, the safer we all will be.

For information, call the Ellsworth County Health Department, (785) 472-4488.