500 cases

500 cases.

With 22 new cases of COVID-19 announced in Friday’s Indiana State Department of Health Report, Jay County surpassed the 500 mark.

The county now has 512 total cases, including 92 in the first five days of November. (Friday’s report covered cases as of midnight Thursday.)

Jay County has seen its rate of cases increase rapidly. It’s 200th case was reported Oct. 1, more than six months into the coronavirus pandemic.

Milestones since then have come faster and faster. It took 20 days to go from 200 to 300; nine days to go from 300 to 400; and six days to go from 400 to 500.

There were 221 cases in October, an average of seven per day. November’s average thus far is 18.4, and the county has had double-digit cases reported in eight of the last nine days. The high mark was 30 on Oct. 28.

Jay County’s 512 cases are still second-lowest in the region — only Blackford County (314) is lower — though its cases per 100,000 residents is higher than Wells and Adams counties.

Other county case totals in the region are as follows: Delaware (3,606); Mercer (1,195); Darke (1,414); Adams (822), Wells (643) and Randolph (634).

Coronavirus is mainly spread through respiratory droplets or small particles from an infected person coughing, sneezing, talking or breathing. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that it may be possible those particles and droplets remain suspended in the air for an unknown period of time and travel beyond 6 feet, especially indoors. CDC guidelines encourage wearing a mask and avoiding close contact when around others and frequent hand washing and surface cleaning as ways to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

The virus causes a range of symptoms, which can appear two to 14 days after exposure. Older adults and those with pre-existing health problems are susceptible to more severe illnesses.