Wayne County COVID cases low as 2nd booster approved for ages 50 and older

Mike Emery, Richmond Palladium-Item
·3 min read

RICHMOND, Ind. — Wayne County is averaging fewer than one COVID-19 case per day this month.

The Indiana State Department of Health's Monday update indicates just nine cases among county residents during April's first 10 days. Six of those cases occurred from April 4 to 10, according to the preliminary weekly report.

That means the past three weeks have all recorded fewer than 10 cases, with seven from March 21-27 and eight from March 28-April 3. Weekly case totals peaked at more than 1,200 during the third week of January and have consistently dropped since that point.

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On Monday, Reid Health reported two COVID-19 patients, with neither in the intensive care unit.

Among Wayne County residents, 14 became fully vaccinated last week and 23 received a first shot of either the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines.

There are now 31,487 fully vaccinated Wayne County residents, accounting for about 47.8% of the population. Another 2,271 residents have received a first dose, meaning about 51.2% have received some vaccine.

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Federal health officials have now approved second booster shots for residents who are 50 and older or who are immunocompromised, according to a Reid Health news release. The second booster must be at least four months after the initial booster.

Reid's release indicates that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's research shows those with a booster have been 21 times less likely to die from COVID-19 and seven times less likely to be hospitalized during the omicron variant wave than those who were unvaccinated.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration's data shows a dip in immunity over time following the boosters.

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Reid continues to provide free vaccine doses at the Reid Health Residency Clinic, 795 Sim Hodgin Parkway in Richmond. The Wayne County Health Department also provides free doses at its location, 100 S. Fifth St.

Wayne County is ranked among the low level COVID-19 areas on the CDC's county-by-county listings. The CDC also lists surrounding Indiana and Ohio counties as low.

Overall, Wayne County has experienced 18,834 laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 cases and 327 deaths from COVID-19 complications. There has not yet been a related death during April.

The overall case and death totals for surrounding counties are:

  • Darke County: 12,371 positive cases and 236 deaths;

  • Henry County: 12,975 positives and 225 deaths;

  • Fayette County: 6,738 positives and 139 deaths;

  • Franklin County: 4,373 positives and 55 deaths;

  • Preble County: 9,453 positives and 197 deaths;

  • Randolph County: 5,894 positives and 145 deaths;

  • Union County: 2,019 positives and 20 deaths.

Indiana has recorded 1,693,078 laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 cases and 22,560 COVID-related deaths through Sunday. The Ohio Department of Health's now-weekly update reported 2,676,629 cases and 38,166 deaths last Thursday.

This article originally appeared on Richmond Palladium-Item: County COVID cases low as 2nd booster approved for ages 50 and older