‘Now is not the time to relax’ about COVID

Brown County has not been released from the state’s highest level of COVID-19 restrictions. New cases and test positivity rates are still higher here than the state average.

From Monday, Nov. 30 to Monday, Dec. 7, Brown County gained 93 new cases of COVID-19 and one more person died from it, taking our total deaths to six since the pandemic began in March and our total cases to 478.

Three of those deaths have occurred in the past two weeks.

On Dec. 3, the state set a single-day record of new COVID-19 cases, at 8,527.

As of Dec. 7, these were the active case counts and absence percentages related to COVID in Brown County schools:

Helmsburg: 0 cases; 6.5 percent absent

Sprunica: 0 cases; 5.1 percent absent

Van Buren: 0 cases; 6.8 percent absent

BCIS: 1 case; 16.4 percent absent

BCJHS: 2 cases; 15.8 percent absent

BCHS: 1 case; 7.9 percent absent

In health region District 8, which includes Brown County, 58 percent of intensive care unit hospital beds were in use for COVID or non-COVID reasons as of Dec. 7. Other counties in that district are Bartholomew, Monroe, Lawrence, Jackson, Orange and Washington, and include hospitals in Bloomington, Columbus, Bedford, Seymour, Paoli and Salem.

In the region that includes Indianapolis and counties immediately surrounding it, 80 percent of ICU beds were in use.

Under red-level county restrictions:

• social gatherings indoors or outdoors are limited to 25 people;
• vulnerable populations are advised to remain isolated and holiday gathering participation is not advised;
• all businesses must adhere to strict social distancing guidelines; curbside pickup is preferred;
• local officials may consider limiting hours for the operation of bars, nightclubs and restaurants (local officials haven’t set any limits in Brown County); and
• special, seasonal or commercial gatherings are to be no larger than 25 people, and they aren’t advised to happen. If any more than 25 people are invited, plans must be approved at least seven days in advance by the local health department.

The ISDH virus spread color-coded map is updated each Wednesday at noon at coronavirus.in.gov.

Regardless of what a county’s color code is, throughout public places in Indiana it’s still required that you wear a face covering and keep a distance of at least six feet between yourself and someone not in your household.

“Now is not the time to relax,” said Susan Armstrong, director of the Brown County Emergency Management Agency.

CDC changes guidance on days of quarantine

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has updated its quarantine guidance for people exposed to COVID-19, providing two options for shortening the standard 14-day quarantine period.

A person who has been exposed to and is identified as a close contact of a person who tests positive for COVID-19 is required to quarantine, which involves staying home and away from other people, for a designated period in order to prevent further spread of disease. The CDC guidance retains the option of a 14-day quarantine, but allows people who do not have symptoms to reduce their quarantine to seven or 10 days, depending on whether they get tested.

Under the revised guidance:

• Quarantine can end after 10 days if the person has not developed any symptoms. A test is not required.
• Quarantine can end after seven days if the person tests negative for COVID-19 on day five, six or seven of the quarantine and has not developed any symptoms.

Both alternatives require that the person adhere to strict practices of masking, social distancing, handwashing and watching for any symptoms through day 14. They also require daily monitoring for symptoms.

State Health Commissioner Dr. Kris Box said the shorter quarantine periods will lessen the disruptions on schools and workplaces by allowing students, teachers and other key workers to return sooner.

However, she urged Hoosiers to complete the 10-day quarantine to avoid further increasing demand for testing.

“Our testing volume across the state has increased significantly, which has strained our laboratory system and extended the time Hoosiers are waiting for results,” Box said. “If you know you have been exposed to COVID-19 but don’t have symptoms, please quarantine for 10 days and save that test for a symptomatic individual who needs results quickly.”

Box noted that while the risk of transmitting COVID-19 at day seven or 10 is low, it is not zero, and the 14-day quarantine may still be the best option for some Hoosiers.

“If you have a job that allows you to work from home just as efficiently as you do in the office, or if you work with vulnerable populations such as cancer patients, please complete the 14 days of quarantine to further reduce any risk that you can spread COVID-19 to someone else,” she said.

COVID testing center switches to reservation only

Free COVID-19 testing will continue to be offered at the Brown County Music Center in Nashville this month, but testing will only be given with an advance reservation.

This is “due to the overwhelming amount of testing being performed,” said Corey Frost, the county’s emergency preparedness coordinator. Previously, testing had been offered by reservation and by drive-up with no reservation, which was causing some long lines and wait times. One week in mid-November, 170 people were tested in one day.

Tests can be scheduled by going to scheduling.coronavirus.in.gov. Three appointments are available per each 15-minute slot.

Testing center hours for December are:

• Tuesdays and Thursdays, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
• Wednesdays and Fridays, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
• Second, third and fourth Saturdays (Dec. 12, 19 and 26), 9 a.m. to noon.
• The center is closed daily from noon 1 p.m. for lunch.
• The center is closed on Sundays, Mondays and holidays.

Testing is available to all members of the public regardless of symptoms. Children as young as 2 can be tested with parent consent.

The address is 200 Maple Leaf Boulevard, Nashville.

The phone number is 812-320-1124.