Last week, Brown County entered “orange” status due to COVID spread according to the Indiana State Department of Health’s metrics. That’s the second-highest level of four.

The ISDH updates the county-by-county status map at coronavirus.in.gov each Wednesday at noon based on positive test numbers and whether or not cases are increasing or decreasing.

This status change does not come with any new mandates, as that is up to individual counties, and the Brown County Commissioners issued a statement on Aug. 13 in favor of personal choice and common sense. The Nashville Town Council affirmed that stance last week.

Between Tuesday, Aug. 17 and Monday, Aug. 23, Brown County picked up 30 new COVID cases.

Nine of those new cases were among Brown County Schools students and two more were among staff members. New cases were reported in all school buildings last week.

Cumulative county totals since March 2020 are now 1,154 positive cases, 4,911 residents tested, 44 deaths and 7,650 residents at least partially vaccinated. That makes for a vaccinated total of approximately 50.5 percent of county residents.

All schools are still on the in-person “green,” plan for instruction, but late last week Van Buren (19 percent) and BCMS (17 percent) were approaching the 20-percent threshold for absences at which a school would get put on “red” and go all-remote. By Monday, their absence percentages had both declined.

The district is now posting daily updates on COVID numbers so that parents can plan for possible childcare needs. Find it at browncountyschools.com/covid-19-updates and click on “daily metric report.”

Free COVID testing and vaccines are still being given at the health department, but those are now on an appointment-only basis by visiting ourshot.in.gov (for a vaccine) or scheduling.coronavirus.in.gov (for testing).

On Aug. 17, IU Health Bloomington Hospital issued a press release asking residents to “help us keep our numbers manageable by getting vaccinated, wearing their masks and considering the level of care they need before visiting an emergency department.”

More than 90 percent of COVID-positive people seeking care at IU Health hospitals in Bloomington, Martinsville, Bedford and Paoli were not vaccinated, the hospital reported. As of Aug. 16, 45 were hospitalized — 41 unvaccinated and four vaccinated. Twelve were in intensive care — all unvaccinated — and two unvaccinated patients were on a ventilator.