COVID cases on the rise again in Monroe County; fewer people taking protective measures

Cases of COVID-19 are increasing again in Monroe County, according to several reports shared Friday during the joint bi-weekly online news conference by Bloomington, Monroe County, Indiana University and IU Health officials.

Monroe County health administrator Penny Caudill noted daily reports of new cases ebb and flow on the state's COVID-19 dashboard, but in general they are showing an upward trend. Thursday, 94 new cases among Monroe County residents were reported. That was the highest single day report since a 104-case day in January, she said. Friday saw 74 new Monroe County cases.

Monroe is one of just six Indiana counties still in the state's yellow coronavirus advisory level based on two-week metrics, with 150 weekly cases of COVID per 100,000 residents and a seven-day positivity rate of 5.78% The rest of the counties are in the more serious orange or red categories. Over the course of the pandemic, 220 Monroe County residents with active confirmed cases of COVID-19 have died as of Friday's state dashboard report. That's up from 216 on Nov. 19 and 200 on Oct. 22.

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Brian Shockney, president of the South Central Region of IU Health, said COVID-19 patient numbers have doubled at its Bloomington hospital and at Monroe Hospital over the past week, mirroring what is going on statewide. Numbers are still well below the pandemic's peaks, however.

Mayor John Hamilton said wastewater tests for COVID-19 RNA at Bloomington's two wastewater treatment plants showed a striking increase on the most recent report, going from around 20 copies per 100 milliliters in recent weeks to 180 at the Blucher Poole plant north of the city and from around 100 copies to 670 at the Dillman Road plant to the south. The highest readings over the course of the pandemic have been in the thousands, the mayor said.

IU officials Aaron Carroll and Kirk White said the local campus is also seeing a COVID uptick since the Thanksgiving break, but case numbers are still very low compared with a year ago. Carroll attributed that to the campus vaccination rate being above 90%.

Caudill said many people are wondering why COVID-19 is continuing to spread and spike locally with vaccines readily available.

While about half of Monroe County's eligible residents are vaccinated, a higher portion than in many Indiana counties, it's still not high enough to stop the spread of the coronavirus. According to a state report, 58.5% of Monroe residents age 5 or older have received at least one shot of a COVID vaccine, and 48.2% are fully vaccinated.

"It is not good. It is not nearly high enough," Caudill said, urging more people to get their initial shots, or to get a booster if enough time has elapsed since their first vaccinations. They can be scheduled at ourshot.in.gov, or directly through some providers such as pharmacy chains and medical facilities.

She blamed much of the latest rise in cases on people failing to follow COVID-19 protocols. "Mask wearing indoors and in crowded situations is waning, and it is clear that people are not staying home when they are sick," she said.

The use of facial coverings, social distancing, hand washing and staying home when you are showing symptoms or have been exposed to someone with COVID are all still necessary steps, both for those who have been vaccinated and those who haven't, Caudill said. So is getting tested if you are showing symptoms.

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Caudill said COVID vaccination clinics at schools and other locations are going well. Monroe County's vaccination providers are currently heavily booked, with the majority of patients being the recently authorized 5- to 11-year-olds who are getting their initial vaccines and older residents who are scheduling boosters. She encouraged people to look outside the county if feasible to get shots scheduled as quickly as possible.

Since a children's dose of Pfizer's vaccine was federally approved for use in 5- to 11-year-olds on Nov. 3, more than 64,000 Hoosier kids that age have gotten their first dose of the two-shot protocol, Caudill said, a little over 10% of that age group. In Monroe County, about 25% of children 5-11 have had their first dose. They are now starting to get their second doses.

Monroe County Commissioner Julie Thomas reported the county has added $25,000 to its township assistance fund to help those struggling financially because of the pandemic, bringing the total to $150,000. Anyone who lives in Monroe County, including those who live in a city or town, and is experiencing difficulty in paying for rent, utilities and other necessities can apply for help by contacting their township trustee office, or by calling 211 or going to in211.org.

Caudill reminded listeners that the state department of health's free drive-through COVID-19 testing site, operated by Gravity Diagnostics, has moved to the Cook Medical property at 301 N. Curry Pike that formerly was a GE refrigerator factory. She said bad weather has forced the clinic to shut down several times in the past few weeks, but the operators are working on changes that will allow them to continue conducting tests even during bad weather.

The testing site is open 8 a.m.-4 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday, with results by 5 p.m. the next day. No appointment is needed.

On another public health note, Thomas announced the county is sponsoring two blood drives at the Mill, 642 N. Madison St., 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 16, and 2-7 p.m. Friday, Dec. 17. People can schedule an appointment by going to redcross.org.

This article originally appeared on The Herald-Times: COVID cases on the rise again in Monroe County