This story has been updated to correct the proportion of those over age 60 who have tested positive. Also, the state health department later revised the number of Hancock County cases downward to 24 through Sunday, March 29.
HANCOCK COUNTY — COVID-19 cases recorded for Hancock County more than doubled over the weekend, and data released for the first time indicates a third are age 60 and older, with 30-somethings not far behind.
The county’s hospital is also reporting it has admitted its first patients with the virus.
Hancock County’s number of recorded positive COVID-19 cases as of Sunday night is 28, according to the latest data available from the Indiana State Department of Health. That includes one death from the virus reported on March 24.
The Hancock County Health Department released demographic data on the county’s positive COVID-19 cases Monday. The data, also compiled as of Sunday night, indicates more than a third of the cases are age 60 and older. Almost 17% are 80 or older.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says people 60 and older and people with underlying health conditions may be at higher risk of getting very sick from COVID-19. Craig Felty, vice president, chief nursing officer and chief operating officer of Hancock Regional Hospital, echoed that Monday.
“They are generally the ones who are having a serious disease and they’re the ones who have needed a majority of the more intensive type of care,” Felty said.
Cases age 30-39 make up the biggest 10-year age bracket, at 29.17%. Also, more than 4% are younger than 20.
“The younger ones are usually the ones that can usually ride it out at home with just some supportive care and by social distancing themselves,” Felty said. “They usually have a more mild illness. We definitely are seeing the disease in the younger folks, but the older folks are the ones who are having more of an issue with it.”
Dr. Sandra Aspy, Hancock County health officer, said members of the 30-39 age group are more likely than others to be caring for both younger people and those who are older, like parents and grandparents.
“To me, that would be the group that would be the most likely to… expose it to our more vulnerable groups,” Aspy said. “To me, that’s why that breakdown is significant. I hate to say it, but maybe that’s a group that still has to work and maybe not being as good about social distancing as they could be.”
Which is why it’s so important to keep away from others as much as possible at this time, she continued.
“I don’t think we’re done with this yet,” she said.
Hancock Regional Hospital has admitted its first two patients with COVID-19, Felty said. Both are in intensive care and in stable condition, he continued, adding he could not disclose ages or an age range of the patients.
The ICU rooms are “negative-pressure” environments, which means their ventilation is set to prevent the air inside them from escaping.
“Everything is pretty much going the way we have heard about how the disease is progressing in patients, and we really haven’t seen any big surprises at this point in time,” Felty said.
Felty agrees with President Donald Trump’s call on Sunday for another month of social distancing.
“At this point in time we’re still recommending everybody just to stay home,” Felty said. “Stay home; don’t go out unless you absolutely have to, and if you do have to go out, distance yourself from people. Keep that 6-foot separation between anybody. Don’t congregate in groups.”
He also recommends people wear face masks when they’re out and about if they have one available.
“It doesn’t hurt at all and if you do have something that you don’t know about, you’re protecting everybody else,” he said.
Aspy also agreed with extending the social-distancing timeline.
“From the numbers that I see, I think that’s a good idea and that’s probably where most states will be heading,” she said.
[sc:pullout-title pullout-title=”By the numbers” ][sc:pullout-text-begin]
Hancock County COVID-19 data as of 11:59 p.m. March 29
Total positive cases: 28 (including one death)
Positive case demographics
Age
- 80+: 16.67%
- 70-79: 8.33%
- 60-69: 8.33%
- 50-59: 16.67%
- 40-49: 8.33%
- 30-39: 29.17%
- 20-29: 8.33%
- 0-19: 4.17%
Gender
- Female: 41.67%
- Male: 58.33%
Sources: Indiana State Department of Health, Hancock County Health Department
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Indiana COVID-19 data as of 11:59 p.m. March 29
Total positive cases: 1,786
Total deaths: 35
Total tested: 11,658
Statewide positive case demographics
Age ranges
- 0-19: 1.8%
- 20-29: 11.7%
- 30-39: 14.4%
- 40-49: 15.7%
- 50-59: 18%
- 60-69: 18.2%
- 70-79: 12.4%
- 80+: 7.7%
Gender
- Female: 52.1%
- Male: 47.9%
Statewide death demographics
- 0-19: 0%
- 20-29: 0%
- 30-39: 2.9%
- 40-49: 0%
- 50-59: 11.4%
- 60-69: 17.1%
- 70-79: 28.6%
- 80+: 40%
Gender
- Female: 34.4%
- Male: 65.6%
Source: Indiana State Department of Health
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