Back to yellow

The county is yellow again.

For the second time in a month, Jay County was the only county in Indiana to be rated “yellow” (moderate risk for spread of coronavirus) in the metrics Indiana State Department of Health updated Wednesday.

Jay County was also the lone county to receive the yellow designation Dec. 30.

While none of the state’s other 91 counties dropped to yellow, the state showed improvement overall. After 73 counties came in with “red” (severe risk) ratings a week ago, that number dropped to 33 this week. The remaining 58 counties all were designated “orange” (high risk).

“We’re definitely happy to be in that yellow level,” said Heath Butz, environmentalist and administrator for Jay County Health Department. “It’s important to note it takes two weeks consistently in that metric to move to the requirements and guidelines for that yellow metric score. …

“We need to still adhere to those measures, which include the same things we’ve been talking about all along — masking, social distancing, washing your hands, avoiding large groups.”

He noted that numbers in adjacent counties (Adams, Wells, Delaware and Randolph) are all at orange while Blackford County remained red.

Jay County saw its numbers drop in the metrics for both seven-day positivity rate and cases per 200,000.

Its positivity rate dropped to 8.07%, down from 12.4% a week earlier. It had been over 20% in December.

The county’s cases per 100,000 came in at 195, down from 288 last week. It had been over 800 in November and early December.

The move to yellow corresponds with a continued decline in overall cases. As of Wednesday’s update, Jay County’s new case totals had been in single digits for 11 straight days. It is on pace for 225 cases this month, which would be down from 408 in December but still third-highest over the course of the pandemic. (Jay County’s first case of COVID-19 was confirmed March 31).

The county has totaled 1,649 cases of COVID-19 and 22 deaths, the most recent of which came Sunday.

There are now two coronavirus vaccination clinics in Jay County with one at Jay County Health Department and the other at IU Health Jay.

The health department’s clinic is scheduled to be open 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.

The IU Health Jay clinic plans to be open from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. Today is its first day administering vaccines.

Appointments for vaccinations are currently available only to those 70 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.

Butz encouraged those who are eligible to continue checking the state website for appointments, as additional dates are added if vaccine doses are available.

“If you fall within those that can get the vaccine, get scheduled,” he said, noting that if local appointments are full that Jay County residents can look for availability at any of the clinics across the state. Indiana State Department of Health lists additional vaccination clinics available in adjacent counties at Adams County Health Department, Adams Memorial Hospital, Wells County Health Department, IU Health Blackford, the Hartford City Elks Lodge, Delaware County Health Department, IU Health Ball Memorial Hospital, Meridian Services (Muncie), Open Door Health Services (Muncie) and Randolph County Health Department. “We want to get everyone in those age groups … because they’re at higher risk for the more severe form of the illness.”

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.