COVID-19 update: Numbers hit plateau, vaccine clinics this week
After a steep climb starting in late 2021 going through mid-January, the number of positive COVID-19 cases in Monroe County and the state of Indiana appear to have plateaued and are starting to show signs of declining.
In Monroe County, the rolling 7-day average has stayed mostly under 290 cases per day for the last two weeks, after hitting 293 on Jan. 13.
The statewide hospital census of COVID-19 patients shows the same general trend, although the rise in cases has been smaller, compared to the total number of cases. Statewide, the rolling daily average census of patients who are hospitalized with the pandemic virus has declined for the last five days, after peaking at around 3,450 patients.
Based on numbers from Indiana’s pandemic dashboard, 75 percent of positive COVID-19 cases in the last four weeks were caused by the Omicron variant.
Vaccine clinics at two locations this week are being promoted by Monroe County’s public health department.
The first clinic runs from Jan. 26 through Jan. 29 at the Sherwood Oaks Christian Church at 2700 Rogers. The hours are from noon until 8 p.m. The clinic has Pfizer and Moderna vaccines, which means anyone age 5 and older can be vaccinated there.
The second clinic goes from Jan. 28 to Jan. 29 at Indiana University’s Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall. The hours are different for each day. On Jan. 28, the clinic goes from noon to 6 p.m. On Jan. 29, the Assembly Hall clinic goes from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. The Assembly Hall clinic has only the Moderna vaccine, which is approved for people 18 and older.
Appointments for both clinic sites are recommended, in part so that some information can be provided in advance, which saves time. On the state’s vaccine appointment web page, one easy way to find the two local clinics this week is to use the search function (magnifying glass in the upper right hand corner). Type in just the word “assembly” or “sherwood” to find either clinic.
In other pandemic-related news, at its regular Wednesday morning meeting, Monroe County’s board of commissioners will consider a contract for enforcement of local health orders, including the county’s mask mandate. The board’s action would extend an existing arrangement with Security Pro 24/7. The not-to-exceed amount is $25,000. The pay rate for each employee of the security firm is set at $50 an hour.
The next activity anticipated in the pending lawsuit by Seven Oaks Classical School against Monroe County over its enforcement of a local mask mandate is set for Feb. 25. That’s when a hearing is scheduled on Monroe County’s motion for summary disposition in its favor.
