For six hours a day, five days a week, the Brown County Health Department administers three COVID-19 tests every 15 minutes.
More testing is expected to be done as the health department has announced an extension of hours, including time on Saturday, to do more free, community testing for COVID-19.
Towards the end of 2021, state officials warned of an expected “very steep rise” in COVID-19 cases in coming weeks as the omicron variant converges with an ongoing delta surge in the state.
The number of Hoosiers hospitalized with COVID-19 had reached its highest level in a year, and the overall hospital census in Indiana was at its highest level in five years, officials said last month. Just 9.2% of the state’s intensive care unit beds were available Dec. 29, the fewest available so far during the pandemic, according to the Indiana State Department of Health.
In response to the increase of positive cases and demand for testing, the health department is now administering PCR testing from 9 to 11:45 a.m., Monday through Friday. On Mondays and Wednesdays testing is done from 4 to 7:45 p.m. Testing is also now be available on Saturdays from noon to 4 p.m.
All of the Saturday test appointments were already filled by Friday, Jan. 7.
“Demand is very high,” said Emergency Health Preparedness Coordinator Corey Frost.
The county does not carry rapid tests, which are experiencing a shortage right now. PCR test results are back in two to three days. Those who receive a test are encouraged to quarantine from others as much as possible while awaiting test results to prevent the spread if the test comes back positive, according to the health department.
Registration will be required and walk-ins will not be accepted. All testing will be done from patient vehicles at the health department, 200 Hawthorne Drive, and everyone is encouraged to look for testing signs upon their arrival.
The testing is free to all members of the public regardless of symptoms. Children as young as 2 can be tested with parental consent.
Funding for the additional hours of operation and overtime for health department and emergency management employees who will help with the testing is coming from an ISDH grant.
Frost said last week that the health department’s testing schedule has been full at 30 or more appointments a day. The vaccine appointments have also been full, but Frost said some slots were still available for this week.
People are tested for a variety of reasons including being symptomatic, exposure, employment requirements, curiosity, travel and entertainment, Frost said.
Last week, ISDH announced that rapid tests at state and local health department testing sites will only be available to individuals aged 18 and younger and symptomatic individuals aged 50 and older. This change is necessary due to the national shortage of rapid antigen tests and is designed to help ensure that students can stay in school and that Hoosiers who are most likely to need a monoclonal antibody are identified within the prescribed window in which they can be administered.
To schedule an appointment for PCR testing here or to get a vaccine call 211 or visit scheduling.coronavirus.in.gov.
Despite shortages of rapid tests, the inventory of PCR tests in the county is stable, Frost said.
“Our (COVID-19) positivity rate has been back and forth with the current trend showing an increase to around 16%,” Frost said of the state of COVID-19 locally.
“Folks should continue to follow all the standard precautions regarding hygiene, staying home when not feeling well and correct mask usage. All these tools combined with getting vaccinated are our way out of this pandemic.”
From Dec. 29 to Jan. 5, Brown County reported 82 new COVID-19 cases. From Dec. 27 to Jan. 3, an additional 29 residents had received at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine. The percentage of residents in the county who are now partially vaccinated is nearing 57%.
Frost said last week that the health department has two appointments every 10 minutes from 1 to 3:30 p.m. Monday through Friday when vaccines are given.
Last week, ISDH announced that children ages 12 to 15 who had received their second dose of the Pfizer vaccine at least five months are eligible to receive a booster dose.
“Booster doses have been shown to increase protection from hospitalization and death against the highly infectious Omicron variant, which is fueling a surge in cases across the country,” a release from ISDH states.
The Pfizer vaccine is the only vaccine approved for individuals younger than age 18.
At the Jan. 5 Brown County Commissioners meeting, the commissioners approved the grant funded overtime for the employees in the health department and emergency management who will help run the clinic over the next month. Approving the overtime will require amending the county’s personnel policy. The commissioners are expected to approve an ordinance with the change at their next meeting on Jan. 19.
“As long as it is funded outside of the county budget then there is no issue to pay them that overtime,” Commissioner Diana Biddle said.
At the commissioners meeting, Frost said the extended hours for testing could go into February. The additional hours will allow for the health department to do around 400 tests a week, he said.
“Our health department has been in overdrive. It’s the same people and they show up to work every day,” county human resources Coordinator Melissa Stinson said.
”They don’t fight against anything. They just do what needs to be done. We so appreciate all of you and our EMA also.”
As of last week, Brown County was in the orange virus spread risk level on the state’s COVID-19 spread map, down from red. But the county must remain at the orange-level metric for two weeks before officially moving down to a lower advisory level. Orange is the second highest of four levels with red being the highest.
The Indiana University Family and Internal Medicine in Nashville, 105 Willow St., will also have extended clinic hours in January to help lessen the demand on hospital emergency rooms. They will now be open until 7 p.m. Monday through Thursday. Urgent, but non-life-threatening needs such as allergic reactions, sprains or strains may be treated at the clinic to help keep locals out of the emergency room. The extended hours are not for true emergencies or routine checkups and medication refills.
