The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention changed course last week on some masking guidelines, recommending that even vaccinated people return to wearing masks indoors in parts of the country where the delta variant of the coronavirus is fueling infection surges.
Citing new information about the variant’s ability to spread among vaccinated people, the CDC also recommended indoor masks for all teachers, staff, students and visitors at schools nationwide, regardless of vaccination status.
The guidance on masks in indoor public places applies in parts of the country with at least 50 new cases per 100,000 people in the past week. That includes 60 percent of U.S. counties, officials said.
As of July 30, that list included Brown County, which was listed as “substantial” community transmission. Substantial is the second-highest of four levels. Our new case rate per 100,000 people was 66.6.
By Aug. 3, our rating had been lowered to “moderate” community transmission, the second-lowest of four levels.
The Brown County Art Gallery reported on July 28 that it is requiring masks again for all people who visit.
On July 29, Gov. Eric Holcomb cited Indiana’s increased levels of COVID-19 infections as he issued an extension of the statewide public health emergency until Aug. 30. A new executive order from Holcomb, however, does not reimpose any statewide face mask requirements or crowd-size limits that expired in April.
The delta variant of COVID-19 is now the dominant strain being detected in people testing positive in Indiana according to data posted at coronavirus.in.gov. It accounted for 94.3 percent of samples tested in July. The delta variant is a “variant of concern” according to the Indiana State Department of Health, and that agency is tracking it to determine if it is causing more disease, hospitalizations or deaths and to make sure that treatments and vaccines still work.
The ISDH reevaluates counties’ COVID statistics every Wednesday, but data is delayed by about a week. As of July 28, Brown County’s COVID spread color stayed at blue, the lowest level. However, 63 of the 92 counties were in yellow or orange status, indicating moderate or moderately high spread of the virus.
Between Tuesday, July 27 and Monday, Aug. 2, Brown County picked up four new virus cases. Total stats counted since March 2020 and changes in the past week are: 1,064 cases (up four), 4,691 residents tested (up five), 43 deaths (no change) and 6,570 residents at least partially vaccinated (up 29). Our vaccination percentage is now 43.5 percent.
COVID-19 testing and vaccines have moved out of the Brown County Music Center and into the former Nashville police station at 200 Hawthorne Drive. That building is the new home of the Brown County Health Department. It can be reached at 812-988-2255.
— Staff and wire reports
