By Mitchell Kirk | Daily Reporter
HANCOCK COUNTY — The county recorded another COVID-19 death, reported its second-highest day of new cases and saw its spread metric worsen Wednesday.
Indiana officials also announced plans for expanding COVID-19 vaccinations to those age 80 and older.
According to data from the Indiana State Department of Health, Hancock County’s latest COVID-19 fatality was a woman age 80 or older who died on Jan. 4. A total of 88 Hancock County residents have died of complications from COVID-19, according to the state data.
The county’s 126 new cases confirmed on Tuesday are topped only by the 136 confirmed on Dec. 2. Total known cases for the county now stand at 5,629.
Hancock County’s COVID-19 advisory level rose once more to red — the highest level — Wednesday. It had been orange since Dec. 23, after being upgraded from red the previous two weeks.
Advisory levels are updated every Wednesday. The state health department assigns colors based on scores derived from two metrics — weekly cases per 100,000 residents and seven-day positivity rates for all tests. Hancock County had 733 cases per 100,000 residents for the week and a seven-day positivity rate of 15.24%.
A county’s two-metric score must improve for two weeks in a row in order to move to a lower advisory level.
All Indiana counties’ advisory levels remained red or orange Wednesday.
“We are likely seeing an uptick due to the holidays,” said Craig Felty, vice president, chief operating officer and director of nursing at Hancock Regional Hospital. “We expected that.”
Felty added the hospital was treating 15 COVID-19 patients Wednesday.
He re-emphasized practices he and other health officials have been urging throughout the pandemic: wear masks, keep your distance, avoid crowds and practice good hand hygiene.
Dr. Sandra Aspy, Hancock County health officer, said the county’s new advisory level could be due to the change in the state’s calculations of positivity. Starting on Dec. 30, the state changed the way it calculated seven-day positivity rates to adding all of the positive tests for a week and dividing by the total tests done that week. Up until then, it had been adding each day’s positivity rate for seven days and dividing by seven to get a week’s positivity rate.
The state also updated COVID-19 data for long-term care facilities Wednesday with numbers through Dec. 30. Greenfield Healthcare Center reported fewer than five new resident cases, resident deaths and staff cases, respectively. Golden LivingCenter-Brandywine in Greenfield reported fewer than five new resident deaths. Pleasant View Lodge in McCordsville reported fewer than five new resident cases and fewer than five new staff cases.
Starting at 9 a.m. Friday, Jan. 8, Hoosiers age 80 and older will be able to register to receive a COVID-19 vaccination at one of 55 vaccinating hospitals and 91 health departments in the state. Registrations can be completed at ourshot.in.gov. Those who have loved ones who need assistance will be able to register on their behalf.
Appointments can also be made starting Friday by calling 211, through which transportation assistance for appointments will also be able to be arranged. The call center will be available 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily.
