Poor COVID numbers force CCSC to resume masking

Using last week’s data, Clay County’s status regarding the spread of the COVID-19 virus is as follows:

Weekly 2-Metric Score - 3/RED

Advisory Category - RED

7-Day All Tests Positivity Rate - 3/RED

Weekly Cases Per 100,000 Residents - 3/RED

(The ISDH’s COVID-19 Dashboard can be viewed at www.coronavirus.in.gov)

COVID-19 Vaccination Dashboard

The ISDH’s COVID-19 Vaccination Dashboard (www.https://www.coronavirus.in.gov/vaccine) reflects 10,963 Clay County residents are fully vaccinated, with 2,891 booster shots administered.

Throughout Indiana, the dashboard reflects 4,982 new fully vaccinated residents among the overall total of 3,477,651vaccinated.

Those receiving booster shots total 977,975.

Nearly all counties in the state’s northern one-third have red ratings, including Fort Wayne’s Allen County and South Bend’s St. Joseph County. Southwestern Indiana around Evansville has another pocket of red-rated counties.

The number of highest-risk counties is the highest Indiana has seen since the state’s worst COVID-19 surge last winter when 73 counties had red ratings in early January.

The state listed just three counties with red ratings at the beginning of November.

Indiana hospitals reported about 2,750 COVID-19 patients as of Tuesday. That number has more than doubled in the past four weeks, putting a strain on hospitals across the state.

The COVID-19 hospitalizations are now higher than Indiana’s summer surge that peaked in September and is approaching the pandemic peak reached in late 2020.

A top Indiana hospital official said this week the current surge might not peak for another month.

The surge has also pushed up Indiana’s average of COVID-19 deaths to more than 30 per day after it was below five a day in July.

CCSC COVID-19 Data

December 3-9, 2021

Coordinator of Health Services for Clay Community Schools Lynn Stoelting, BSN RN, confirmed the COVID-19 data from Clay Community Schools Corporation confirms the level of the virus spread in Clay County schools continues to be in flux.

(SEE DATA CHART above submitted by Clay Community Schools for more details)

The ADVISORY LEVEL issued by the ISHD refers to the current guidelines the county must follow. A county must remain at a lower Weekly Two-Metric Score for two consecutive weeks to move down to a lower advisory level. This is the first week Clay County has returned to the category.

The Clay Community School’s Reentry Plan requires masks if the county is in RED on the Indiana Covid-19 Map. The following statement was sent to parents yesterday:

“Unfortunately, Clay County moved to red this week on the Indiana Covid-19 Dashboard. Beginning tomorrow, December 9, 2021, masks will be required for students, employees, and visitors in the schools – during the school day. Hopefully, this will help keep our students in school, as we approach semester exams and Christmas break. Your understanding and support are greatly appreciated!”