Jay moves to blue

For the first time in months, the state department of health considers Jay County to be at minimal risk for the spread of coronavirus.

The county was deemed “blue” (minimal risk) for the first time since mid-October in the metrics updated Wednesday by Indiana State Department of Health.

It had been rated yellow (moderate risk) for each of the last two weeks. It had been at high or severe risk from Oct. 28 through Dec. 29.

Jay County was one of just 11 that were blue statewide and the only one in the area. Adams, Wells, Blackford, Delaware and Randolph counties were all rated yellow. The closest county that was also rated blue was Madison.

The local rating came down because of a decline in the positivity rate. Jay County had a positivity rate of 4.73% this week, down significantly from last week’s 9.77% and just below the 5% threshold in the state’s metrics.

The county’s cases of COVID-19 per 100,000 residents were also down to 63 as compared to 146 the previous week.

The state map continued to show improvement overall.

After 63 counties were rated either orange (high risk) or red (severe risk) last week, only eight were orange this week. None were red. The bulk of the map remains yellow, with 73 counties deemed moderate risk.

Jay County’s drop to blue comes about a month after its first coronavirus vaccination clinic opened Jan. 12 at Jay County Health Department.

Jay County now has three vaccination clinics with the recent addition of the pharmacy at Walmart in Portland. The vaccination at the health department runs from 11:15 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays as well as 8:30 a.m. to 1:15 p.m. Saturdays, and the clinic at IU Health Jay has appointments from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays.

Appointments for vaccinations are currently available only to those 65 and older. Those interested in making an appointment can do so online at ourshot.in.gov or by calling the state’s 2-1-1 telephone assistance service.

Clinics in adjacent counties are at Adams County Hospital, Adams County Health Department, Kroger in Decatur, Wells County Health Department, IU Health Blackford, Blackford County Health Department, Randolph County Health Department and Walmart in Winchester. There are nine vaccinations in Delaware County, including IU Health Ball Memorial Hospital.

Thus far, 2,575 first doses of vaccination have been administered in Jay County. (Those numbers do not necessarily reflect the number of local residents vaccinated, as any eligible Hoosier can be vaccinated at any clinic in the state.) Nearly 835,000 first doses have been administered statewide.

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.