Two more COVID-19 deaths were reported last week in Brown County as the entire state moved to the red advisory level on the Indiana State Department of Health’s virus spread map.
The two additional deaths were reported on Jan. 19, bringing the total lives lost to COVID-19 to 56 since March 2020.
On Jan. 19, the entire state was placed in the “red” status due to COVID-19 spread, which is the 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.
Also on Jan. 19, Brown County reported an additional 22 COVID-19 cases from the previous day. From Jan. 12 to 19 the county reported an additional 121 cases, which was the biggest jump in cases in one week since the Brown County Democrat began tracking positive cases reported by ISDH in March 2020.
Previously the biggest jump in positive cases reported in one week was 111 and that was from Jan. 5 to 12.
For the third time in less than two months the Brown County Fairgrounds was the site of another drive-thru testing and vaccine clinic last week as COVID-19 cases continue to increase along with the demand for testing.
The National Guard was called in to assist with the clinic, the county’s Emergency Health Preparedness Coordinator Corey Frost reported to the Brown County Commissioners last week.
Frost said when he left the fairgrounds on the afternoon of Jan. 19 there were 40 cars waiting in line.
“They are busy,” he said.
The health department will continue to offer extended hours for PCR testing as a response to the increase in positive cases and demand for testing.
PCR testing is available at the health department, 200 Hawthorne Drive, 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.
To schedule an appointment for PCR testing here or to get a vaccine call 211 or visit scheduling.coronavirus.in.gov.
At the Jan. 19 commissioners meeting Frost reported that every slot for testing continues to be booked, but that the health department was starting to see a downward trend in vaccination appointments beginning this week.
“We’re seeing every slot booked right now until this point. Monday we have four slots that are filled then it goes down to zero from then. I don’t know what that means, but that’s where we’re at,” Frost said of vaccination appointments.
At the commissioners meeting last week, county Human Resources Coordinator Melissa Stinson said that the county is following the policy set by the Centers for Disease Control regarding employees returning to work after testing positive for COVID-19.
Under the CDC recommendations, employees will be out of the office for five days regardless of their vaccination status. After five days, employees can return to work if they are asymptomatic and do not have a fever. They will then be required to wear a mask for an additional five days. Or employees can be out of the office for 10 days total.
“Most people are not coming back in five days. They don’t feel like it and they are not coming back. The sad part about it this year is we no longer pay for those days off. They have to pay,” Stinson said.
“The first round of COVID relief money paid for that and that is gone. That ended Dec. 31.”
As of Jan. 20, the percentage of residents who are partially vaccinated was 57%.
