Twelve in a row

Jay County’s COVID-19 case numbers declined over the last two weeks.

They were still not low enough to get the county out of the high-risk level.

In Indiana State Department of Health’s update Wednesday, Jay County was rated “orange” (high risk for the spread of coronavirus) for the 12th consecutive week.

Also Wednesday, the state announced that all Hoosier children ages 5 through 11 are now eligible for a free COVID-19 vaccine. (The vaccine received final federal approval Tuesday.)

Jay County averaged 5.7 new confirmed cases of COVID-19 over the final 12 days of October after averaging 9.3 over the first 19 days of the month. (September’s average was 11.7.)

Even with the decline, though, its numbers the state uses to determine coronavirus spread risk still put the county at the orange level. Its cases per 100,000 residents dropped to 220 from 249 the previous week, and its seven-day positivity rate was down to 9.34% from last week’s 10.74%. (In order to drop to “yellow” (moderate risk), the county would need to have its cases per 100,000 residents drop below 200 or its positivity rate drop below 5%.)

Despite the trail-off in cases at the end of October, the month still had the third-most cases this year at 244. It trailed only September (350) and August (273). (The county had 221 cases of COVID-19 in October 2020.)

Hospitalizations in District 6, which includes Jay County, are now hovering just below 150. That’s down from the recent peak of 391 in September.

For the first time since early August, the statewide map showed more counties at its lower two risk levels than at its higher two. Forty-nine counties, including Wells and Delaware, were rated yellow this week and one — Fayette — was “blue” (low risk). Forty counties, including Blackford, Adams and Randolph, were rated orange, and two — LaGrange and Grant — were rated “red” (extreme risk).

As of Wednesday night, a list of 19 sites, mostly in the Indianapolis area and northwest Indiana, were offering the vaccine for 5 through 11 year olds. The closest to Jay County was Hamilton County Fairgrounds, 2003 Pleasant St., Noblesville. Additional sites are expected to open in the coming days and weeks. Appointments can be made online at ourshot.in.gov.

“Having a COVID-19 vaccine available to our younger Hoosiers is a game changer in terms of our efforts to keep children healthy and in school for in-person learning,” state health commissioner Dr. Kristina Box said in a statement.

Vaccine boosters are available for those 65 and older or those who are 18 and older and at high risk. (Anyone who received the Johnson & Johnson vaccine is eligible for a booster.) They are to be given six months or longer after completion of the first series of vaccines.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention indicates that vaccination continues to be the best way to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Clinics in Jay County are available at Jay County Health Department, Walgreens in Portland and CVS in both Portland and Dunkirk.

Jay County continues to rank sixth-lowest in vaccination rate among Indiana’s 92 counties. According to the CDC, 42.4% of those 12 and older in the county have been vaccinated.

The CDC also recommends wearing a mask indoors for those who are in an area of “substantial or high transmission,” which includes Jay County.

Coronavirus is mainly spread through droplets or particles from an infected person coughing, sneezing, talking or breathing. The virus causes a range of symptoms, including fever and shortness of breath, which can appear up to 14 days after exposure.