COVID-19

County goes back into yellow

Posted

Montgomery County went back into the yellow on the state’s COVID-19 map Wednesday amid a rise in positive cases.

The designation means there is “moderate” community spread of the illness caused by the coronavirus. For a second straight week, the Indiana State Department of Health flagged the county for a “large number of weekly cases being attributable to congregate settings.”

The color-coded criteria is based on the county’s seven-day positivity rate for all tests, which was 7.34%, and the weekly case rate per 100,000 residents, which was 83 cases. The seven-day positivity rate was less than 2% around the same time last month.

Montgomery County Health Department Administrator Amber Reed said the change in status should be a reminder the pandemic is not over and more people need to be vaccinated.

“At six months in, anybody who is eligible has had an opportunity,” Reed said.

Less than 40% of county residents ages 12 and older are fully vaccinated, according to state figures. The state average is 46.5%.

About half of the available time slots at the health department’s vaccine clinic are being filled, Reed said, indicating that undecided people are not booking appointments. Walk-ins are also being accepted.

The shots are given at the department’s offices at 308 W. Market St., behind the Mishler and Walker dental practices.

Hours are 3 to 6 p.m. Monday and Wednesday, 10 a.m. to noon and 1 to 3 p.m. Fridays and
9 a.m. to noon Saturdays. Appointments can be scheduled at vaccine.coronavirus.in.gov.

Fully vaccinated people can be less concerned about the rise in cases, Reed said, but should remain vigilant. The vaccine doesn’t prevent someone from contracting COVID-19, but it means they’re less likely to show symptoms.

Reed said the higher case numbers could be the result of fewer people wearing face coverings. Unvaccinated individuals are advised to mask around others.

“I’ve walked into different places and there’s predominantly no masks,” Reed said. “Having run this vaccine site and knowing our numbers, I’m pretty certain many of those people aren’t vaccinated.”

The total number of positive coronavirus cases in Montgomery County since the beginning of the pandemic stands at 4,353. A total of 90 deaths have been reported.


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