Monroe County COVID case rate dips for first time this month, still has 'long way to go'
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After a turbulent start to the year, Monroe County's COVID-19 case rate seems to be showing some signs of leveling off.
As reported on Indiana's state-wide dashboard, Monroe County currently has 1,278 cases per 100,000 residents — a 12% decrease from last week's reported rate. This is the first instance of the local case rate decreasing since January began.
In the last week of December, Monroe County had a case rate of 270 cases per 100,000 residents. Since then, the case level has steadily risen with one spike at a 76% increase from one week to the next.
At Wednesday's Monroe County Board of Commissioners meeting, county health administrator Penny Caudill said Monroe County seems to be on a plateau right now.
Earlier this month: Monroe County moves into red advisory with record-breaking COVID-19 case numbers
"I see that as a good thing that we're not continuing to rise, but we have a long way to go," Caudill said. "Don't get too excited yet, but maybe it's a glimmer of hope for us."
This week, the county's seven-day COVID test positivity rate slightly increased; it now stands at 22.5%.
New COVID-19 vaccine, testing: Assembly Hall, school clinic, more
This week, there are several vaccine clinics and testing opportunities in Monroe County with many appointment slots still available.
From now until Saturday, a state-sponsored mobile clinic will be at Sherwood Oaks Christian Church, 2700 E. Rogers Road, from noon to 8 p.m. The clinic will have COVID-19 testing and vaccines available for those ages 5 and older. Caudill urged those interested to make an appointment by visiting www.ourshot.in.gov to decrease wait times and long lines.
"This will be an indoor clinic. However, lines may extend outside and it is cold," Caudill said, encouraging residents to dress in weather-appropriate clothes.
More: How to get, administer an at-home COVID test; where to get free N95 masks in Bloomington
The Monroe County Health Department will host a booster clinic for children ages 12 and older as well as school staff from 9 a.m. to noon Saturday at Bloomington High School South's cafeteria. First and second doses of the COVID-19 vaccine will also be available.
A person who received an initial two-dose regime of the Moderna or Pfizer vaccine must wait at least five months after their second shot before they can receive a booster dose. Those who got a single-shot Johnson & Johnson vaccine can get a booster after two months.
The booster clinic is open to all children ages 12 and older regardless of what school they attend. To register for an appointment, visit www.ourshot.in.gov.
This weekend, Indiana University will host a mobile COVID-19 vaccination clinic at Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall for anyone 18 or older. It will have the Moderna vaccine, including booster doses. The clinic will be open noon to 6 p.m. Friday and 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturday.
To park nearby, residents can enter Gate 4 off East 17th Street and park in the Orange Lot. An IU permit is not required to park for this clinic.
Appointments are preferred. To register, visit Indiana's COVID-19 vaccine site at https://bit.ly/3o37hAV. On that webpage, select “Mobile sites” followed by “Monroe.” This site is listed as “IND IU Simon Skjodt Assem Hall MVAX.”
Monroe County also has COVID-19 testing available at the state-sponsored Gravity Diagnostics site, 171 N. Curry Pike, 8 a.m.-4 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday each week. No appointment is required.
Contact Rachel Smith at rksmith@heraldt.com or @RachelSmithNews on Twitter.
This article originally appeared on The Herald-Times: Monroe County's COVID-19 case rate decreases for first time in 2022
