The Indiana State Department of Health wants Daviess County to find a way to curb its COVID-19 cases. Local health officials say the state reached out to them following a significant rise in the number of cases.
“Our numbers are high and so is our positivity rate,” said Daviess County Public Health Nurse Kathy Sullender. “They are up all across the board concerning people 20 and over. We had fall break and people relaxed and had some social gatherings. It has gotten into some of our businesses. It is very alarming.”
Under the state’s rating system, Daviess County is one of several in southwestern Indiana that are in the “orange” category with a 2.5 rating. The next to worst highest. The rating is based on cases per 100,000 people (248). The percentage of tests that come back positive out of the total number of tests (13.5%) and which way that percentage is trending (in Daviess County it is going up).
“Our situation is very concerning,” said Sullender. “The deaths are still going up (total now stands at 34). Fall is coming and people will be indoors more and I am really afraid we are in for a long winter.”
In a letter from Daviess County Health Officer Dr. Merle Hosopple he says the state puts Daviess County in the top 5 in COVID-19 positivity rate and the numbers continue to rise.
The letter says that if the trend is not reversed, “the State Health Commissioner and the Daviess County Health Officer may take action to restrict activities in our county such as large events, K-12 extra-curricular activities and business capacity limitations.”
As the numbers rose, one of the first actions of the local health department was to close down inside visitation at county nursing homes.
“Many of our nursing homes have taken steps beyond that,” said Sullender. “Some have canceled all visitation.
The numbers for nursing home facilities have been a sore spot.
Of the 34 people who have died of the coronavirus in Daviess County, the Daviess County Health Department says all of the victims have been over 60.
Of those, 14 deaths were recorded a Ketcham Memorial in Odon and another five at the Villages of Oak Ridge. Other facilities, like assisted living centers in the county, have also had COVID deaths but their numbers are not listed in the state department of health website.
It is not just those numbers that produce an impact on the care at COVID hit facilities. In all, at least 43 residents have contracted the disease. And in even more cases the staff has been infected.
Of Daviess County’s 913 COVID cases, around 58 have been staff at nursing homes in the county.
“Everyone is doing their best to try and keep it out of the nursing homes and away from our most vulnerable populations,” said Sullender.
But if the infection continues to spread then officials may be forced to take more drastic measures.
“Nothing is off the table,” said Sullender. “The health department does not want to close schools or businesses. We just have to do what we need to do to stop the spread.”
To that end, officials say that it really comes down to the public response to fighting the disease.
“It is important that we stay vigilant in following the infection control guidelines of the Centers of Disease Control and the Indiana State Department of Health,” wrote Dr. Holsopple. “Daviess County is still under a mask mandate provided Indiana Executive Order 20-37. Please do your part to help stop the spread by wearing masks, social distancing, hand washing and avoid social gatherings. Be aware of the risks of traveling and we recommend to self-isolate upon return. Stay home if you are sick and get tested.”
Unlike, the way the county was when COVID first arrived, there are now a number of places where people can get checked for the disease. Most doctors’ offices offer COVID tests, and a new free testing clinic has opened at the Daviess County Quick Care offices.
“I really hope people will get tested,” said Sullender. “When you get tested you know for sure, and if you are infected then you can quarantine and help control the spread.”
The local health department has met with the county’s commissioners and school officials to try and stress the importance of bringing the infection under control.
“Everybody is tired of COVID. I get it,” said Sullender. “But whether you are tired of it, or whether you are tired of wearing a mask, COVID doesn’t care. We may be at stage 5 but we still have to be vigilant. This is a virus and it is still going strong.”
Sullender says that the simple things of social distancing, masks, washing hands often and staying home when sick and getting tested remain the only defense against COVID.
“We will have cases,” she said. “Right now, we have four people on ventilators. We hear talk about a vaccine, but it is still a long way off.”
To try and put the breaks on the growing COVID risk health officials are asking people in Daviess County to do what they are known for doing, pulling together for the common good and they are asking for the help of businesses, churches, community centers and industry to the county safe and avoid any kind of economic shutdown.
“This disease is very unpredictable,” said Sullender. “It is still killing our neighbors. I hope and pray that we can get our numbers down.”
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