TOP STORY OF THE DAY, brought to you free by WICU: Thursday COVID update keeps Clay County at red level

Saturday, January 16, 2021

As of noon on Thursday, January 14, 2021, the Indiana State Department of Health continues to show Clay County in the RED category on the Dashboard’s Color Code System. The current data (January 1-7, 2021) shows the county continues to be trending high on the positivity scale (32% for unique individuals tested and 22.7% for the 7-Day rate, with a 12.9% overall cumulative since the beginning of the pandemic), which will keep the county in the RED category for at least another week.

A county must remain at a lower Weekly Two-Metric Score for two consecutive weeks to move down to a lower advisory level. (The ISDH COVID-19 Data Report is updated daily at noon. However, it regularly uses data 24-48 hours old to help ensure the report’s accuracy.)

COVID-19 VACCINE CHANGES

The vaccination of Hoosiers against COVID-19 is under way, and now those age 70 and older are eligible to schedule a vaccination appointment.

According to the ISDH, Indiana residents age 70 and older can schedule a vaccination online at coronavirus.in.gov/vaccine/index.htm, or by calling 2-1-1.

Also included in the vaccinations are long-term care residents, first responders (fire, law enforcement, emergency medical services, reservists and volunteers) who have in-person contact with the public and licensed and unlicensed healthcare workers who have in-person contact with patients or infectious material in any healthcare setting.

The public is urged to be patient, as the vaccine supply is limited. Additional groups will be eligible as soon as vaccine supplies permit.

“Appointments are booked for the amount of vaccine we are receiving,” said Clay County Health Nurse Kim Hyatt about the vaccination clinic at the Clay County 4-H Fairgrounds. “If they aren’t registered, we won’t have the vaccine for them.“

No walk-ins are being done at the clinic which opened Wednesday to vaccinate 100 people with previously scheduled appointment for this week, and will be open next week for 100 more appointments.

Health officials confirmed appointments through the Indiana State Department of Health are only eligible to participate in the clinic at this time.

The vaccine consists of two doses, and the second appointment will be automatically scheduled for 28 days later when a person arrives at the local clinic. Officials said ISDH would privately share COVID-19 health information and provide reminders about the individual’s second appointment.

As the county health department continues to receive the vaccine, more appointments will be available.

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