Positivity rates are down, so why is the county still in “red?”
Johnson County remains in “red,” according to the state’s color-coded metrics, but the county’s positivity rate continues to trend downward. As of Sunday, the day each week’s color ratings are based on, Johnson County had a 15.8% 7-day positivity rate.
Every day since Monday, the county’s 7-day positivity rate was less than the 15% threshold for “red.” The rate on Thursday was 13.7%. If the trend continues, the county will likely move to “orange,” but its advisory level will remain “red” for two more weeks. Gathering limits are based on a county’s color; counties in “red” must follow stricter guidelines.
Positivity rates have also decreased around the state, with the state’s 7-day positivity rate on Thursday was 11.2%, several percentage points lower than it has been in weeks.
All counties surrounding Johnson County — with the exception of Bartholomew County — are in “red.”
Why are positivity rates decreasing?
Health officials say positivity rates are decreasing because the holiday season is over. With fewer multi-household gatherings, the virus is slower to spread.
Dr. David Dunkle, Johnson Memorial Health president and CEO, attributes the local decrease to moving out of holiday season and more people being vaccinated.
“We are a couple of weeks out from the holidays. This a direct result of that fact,” Dunkle said. “I think it also helps that we are getting vaccines in the arms of the most at-risk people and in the arms of people who care for them.”
Dunkle and Betsey Swearingen, Johnson County Health Department director, say the positivity rate going down does not mean it is time to relax precautions. The time to relax won’t come until a much higher number of residents are vaccinated.
Has Johnson Memorial Hospital noticed any changes due to the lower positivity rate?
The hospital on Wednesday had just six COVID-19 patients, fewer than there has been seen since before Thanksgiving, Dunkle said. The hospital began to see a decrease in admissions Jan. 15, when 18 were being treated.
Though the COVID-19 population is lower, the numbers could shoot back up again at anytime. For now, the staff has a chance to breathe and appreciate the relative calm as long as it lasts, he said.
To help keep rates trending in this direction, Dunkle asks residents to continue with precautions and avoid multi-household gatherings.
How many vaccines have been distributed?
More than 9,600 Johnson County residents have been vaccinated, according to the state’s vaccine dashboard. Statewide, 362,000 Hoosiers received their first dose, and 88,000 are vaccinated fully, data shows.
Locally, the vaccine total does not reflect the number of vaccines that have been given by Johnson Memorial and the health department, Swearingen said.
Right now, local officials do not have the ability to accurately report how many have been vaccinated at Johnson Memorial, because the registration platforms the hospital and health department uses still have not merged fully, she said.
The local health department is working with its state counterparts to find a fix for the reporting problems, Swearingen said.
Statewide, two-thirds of the state’s long-term care facilities have received vaccines, said Dr. Kristina Box, state health commissioner.
About 70% of Johnson Memorial Health employees have now been vaccinated, which Dunkle said is encouraging.
Why aren’t more people being vaccinated?
State health officials say they are giving out vaccines as quickly as possible. Right now, there is a roughly 1:1 ratio of vaccines available in the state to appointments scheduled, said Dr. Lindsay Weaver, state medical officer.
So far, the state has received 736,000 doses, and administered first and second doses to 450,000 Hoosiers. The state has 286,000 vaccines on hand but not yet administered, and 270,000 appointments scheduled, Weaver said.
Each week, the state receives between 78,000 and 80,000 new vaccine doses. Because shipments are not expected to increase within the next few weeks, the state does not plan to open up the vaccine to any more Hoosiers right now, she said.
The county health department receives just under 1,000 vaccines weekly, based on the number of vaccines given per time slot at the local clinic, Swearingen said.
When state officials are confident enough to expand eligibility, the next age group will be Hoosiers aged 65 to 69. Initially, state health officials planned to open the vaccine next to Hoosiers as young as 60, but scaled it back to 65 due to news that there is no national vaccine stockpile, Box said.
Health officials said Thursday they aren’t sure when the vaccine will be made available to more Hoosiers.
How do I schedule an appointment?
Hoosiers 70 and older, first responders and health care workers are eligible for the vaccine.
An appointment is required to get it, as counties receive vaccine allotments based on appointments scheduled, Swearingen said.
Hoosiers should register online at ourshot.in.gov or call 211 to make an appointment.
For seniors or caregivers having difficulty registering online or getting through to 211, the state health department suggests calling one of Indiana’s Area Agencies on Aging for help. For the Area 8 agency, which includes Johnson County, call 317-254-5465 or 800-432-2422.
At least six residents who registered for a vaccine through 211 were registered for a COVID-19 test instead, Swearingen said. Those who call 211 should double-check they are scheduling the right appointment, she said.
