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UPDATED - COVID-19 Spikes again
UPDATED FRIDAY, August 14, 2020 - The Indiana State Department of Health confirms Clay County now has a cumulative total of 150 positive COVID-19 Cases, with 51 new individuals tested bringing that total to 2,806. These nine new cases of COVID-19 occurred the previous 24 hours of Thursday, August 13, 2020.
The “spike” of positive COVID-19 in Clay County jumped up again. From Monday, August 10 (124 cases) to Thursday, August 13, the Indiana State Health Department confirms the total of confirmed cases spiked to 141, and the preliminary Positivity Rate is 5.1 percent.
New individuals tested include 63, with a total of 2,757 tests administered overall. More tests are being conducted and sent to labs, but the results have not returned.
COVID-19 is considered a “hyped up situation” by many people, including some Clay County residents who refuse to wear a mask for what they believe is basically “a cold and will disappear after the November elections.”
This was a topic during Gov. Eric Holcomb’s weekly press conference (August 12) about the state’s response to COVID-19.
State Health Commissioner Kristina Box tackled the opposition to wearing masks and face coverings that cite a person’s CO2 levels dramatically increased by wearing a mask that forces a person to breathe their oxygen, a primary reason to avoid wearing masks.
“I have heard that from more than one person myself,” said Box, citing several studies debunk that. “In fact, as a surgeon, and surgeons all over the state, wear masks for many, many hours, sometimes 12-14 hours at a time. We often in the emergency room have to do that mask regularly. We wouldn’t be able to function if our oxygen levels were dropping or our CO2 levels were rising or high. There is just no truth to that.”
Gov. Holcomb responded to the idea that COVID-19 will magically disappear after the upcoming November Election.
“I’m not your bookie, but don’t bet on it,” said the governor with humor, who admitted if one thing has been learned since COVID-19 started is that each day begins with three possible scenarios. “One, it will stay the same; one, it will get worse; or one, it will get better. We are trying to do everything we can 24/7 to realize the third.”
Holcomb said that it requires everyone to do their part to stop the spread of the COVID-19.
“There shouldn’t be an ‘I’ll just punt my responsibility because it will all be over on any given day that you hope will occur. That is not a good strategy for good health or success.“