Less access to COVID-19 testing may be leading to higher positivity rates in rural areas. Indiana Department of Health Chief Medical Officer Dr. Lindsay Weaver says that if a county only has one testing site, people may be more likely to wait until they have noticeable symptoms.
“That might increase the positivity in some of those areas,” she explained during Wednesday’s COVID-19 press conference. “Not that it’s not important. It is. It’s something that we should pay attention to because they’ve had the same testing week after week. But it does affect the numbers, and that’s why you might see the positivity rate fluctuate a bunch from week to week.”
She noted that expanding testing to those with mild or no symptoms helps decrease the positivity rate.
Also during Wednesday’s press conference, Indiana Department of Homeland Security Executive Director Steve Cox said the State Fire Marshal’s Office and local fire departments have begun working with organizations that have asked for the state’s help in slowing the spread. “This is in an education campaign to help building owners understand how to minimize risk to their staff, customers, and other people that may use their spaces,” Cox said. “So the key for us is to be able to go in and provide any answers and support and information to those building owners that are asking for it.”
Cox said his department is currently providing outreach in Elkhart, St. Joseph, and Vanderburgh counties.
