Cases are up, but Jay remains at blue

The county’s rating stayed the same, but its numbers were up.

In Indiana State Department of Health’s updated Wednesday, Jay County was rated “blue” (low risk for the spread of coronavirus) for the second week in a row though its numbers increased for both cases per 100,000 residents and positivity rate.

The county was blue last week and has been blue for seven of the last nine weeks. It was “yellow” (moderate risk) in both the March 24 and March 31 updates.

While Jay County’s rating remained blue, its cases per 100,000 residents went up to 78 after coming in at 29 last week. That’s the highest mark in more than a month.

The county’s positivity rate this week was 3.92%, up from 2.31% last week.

Indiana showed the same trend of numbers going up, with 49 counties rated yellow and one (LaPorte) rated “orange” (high risk). That’s up from 45 yellow and no orange last week. Blackford and Wells counties were rated yellow for the second consecutive week.

The remaining 42 counties, including Adams, Delaware and Randolph, were rated blue.

Coronavirus vaccination appointments are open to all Hoosiers 16 and older. Jay County currently has vaccination clinics available at Jay County Health Department and IU Health Jay. Appointments can be made online at ourshot.in.gov or by calling the state’s 2-1-1 telephone assistance service.

Jay County Health Department has also opened its vaccination clinic to walk-ins from 1 to 6 p.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays. It will also accept walk-ins from 9 a.m. to noon Saturday.

As of Tuesday, more than 9,000 doses of coronavirus vaccine had been administered in Jay County. That includes 3,921 individuals who are fully vaccinated.

Statewide, 3.52 million doses have been administered with 1.47 million individuals fully vaccinated.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines encourage wearing a mask, avoiding close contact when around others, frequent hand washing and surface cleaning as ways to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Indiana is under a “mask advisory,” meaning masks are recommended but not required.

Coronavirus is mainly spread through respiratory droplets or small particles from an infected person coughing, sneezing, talking or breathing. The CDC 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.

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.