More Indiana counties are seeing more COVID-19 spread. The state’s color-coded map has fewer counties in blue than it did last week and more in the yellow and orange categories.
“Last week, we had four counties in orange and no counties in red,” State Health Commissioner Dr. Kris Box said during a press conference Wednesday. “This week, we have eight counties in orange and one, Pike, in red. I want to emphasize how little it takes to change a county’s score and color.”
Box said 1,081 Hoosiers were hospitalized with COVID or COVID symptoms as of Tuesday, and the number of intensive care beds available is shrinking in some places. “Most of these areas already have a smaller number of beds available and are seeing increased need for ICU beds for non-COVID illnesses,” she explained, “but it is another data point that we are watching closely.”
Box said some of the COVID-19 increases stem from outbreaks in long-term care facilities, while more than 30 cases have been traced back to a single indoor gathering where people weren’t wearing masks. Southwestern Indiana, where much of the spread is occurring, has apparently had cases traced back to weddings, funerals, bars, restaurants, and high school sporting events. While Indiana saw an increase of COVID-19 cases in younger residents back in August, Box said it now appears they’ve begun spreading it to older family members.
She stressed that COVID-19 isn’t going away any time soon, and it’ll be months before most people will be able to get a vaccine. “I know you’re tired of wearing masks and staying apart,” Box said. “We all have pandemic fatigue. But I keep hearing about cases that could’ve been prevented if people had just taken simple precautions. We’re in Stage 5, but we still need to wear masks and practice social distancing, so that we can stay in Stage 5. I can’t emphasize that enough.”
Governor Holcomb on Wednesday also urged Hoosiers to do their part, not only at work but also at gatherings outside of work.
Locally, Starke and Marshall counties are coded yellow this week, indicating moderate community spread, while Pulaski County remains in blue.
