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Akins Takes Over Health Department During A Challenging Time

Cathy Akins Named New Director Of The Mercer County Health Department

Cathy Akins has been named the new director of the Mercer County Health Department.

Robert Moore

Herald Staff

rmoore@harrodsburgherald.com

Cathy Akins is the new permanent executive-director of the Mercer County Health Department.

Akins, who has worked at the health department for 18 years, was named interim director in July 2020 after  Kathy Crown-Weber retired.

It was not an auspicious time to start off as director. Due to the escalating number of COVID-19 infections, Gov. Andy Beshear instituted the mask mandate on July 10 and then reduced crowd sizes for outdoor events to 10 people. Large events, such as the outdoor theater production at Old Fort Harrod State Park and the annual fireworks show at Herrington Lake were canceled.

Since then she has had to oversee the implementation of the county’s contact tracing and vaccination programs, which included vaccinating first responders as well as teachers so local schools could reopen.

Akins, who also serves as the environmental program manager at the health department, received the John W. Poe Award in March for her leadership during the pandemic.

COVID-19 vaccinations are now available to everyone in Mercer County 18 years old and over. Appointments to receive the first dose of the Moderna vaccine are available as soon as Tuesday, April 20.  Call 859-734-4522.

For the rest of the story, check out this week’s issue of the Harrodsburg Herald or click here to subscribe to the online version.

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