HANCOCK COUNTY — State officials announced new COVID-19 requirements Wednesday in an effort to stem what they’re calling a second surge of the novel coronavirus.
The announcement came shortly after the state declared Hancock County and many other counties across the state are experiencing moderate to high COVID-19 community spread.
That designation is represented by the color orange on the Indiana State Department of Health’s color-coded county metric map. Designations are based on weekly cases per 100,000 residents, which for Hancock County was 326; and seven-day positivity rates for all tests, which for the county was 8.8%.
Last week, the county was yellow, representing moderate community spread. After Wednesday’s update, most counties are orange, five are yellow and nine are red, indicating high community spread. None are blue, meaning low spread.
Many counties were blue when the map was released in September, Gov. Eric Holcomb pointed out during a media briefing Wednesday. Also in September, the state’s seven-day positivity rate for all tests was 3.9%, more than six percentage points lower than what it was Wednesday.
“Like many states across the country, we are in the midst of a second surge,” Holcomb said.
Holcomb said he will sign an executive order implementing new requirements starting on Sunday, Nov. 15 for all of Indiana as well as targeted restrictions in orange and red counties.
Face coverings will continue to be required statewide, Holcomb said, along with social distancing of at least 6 feet in public spaces, inside and outside. He stressed this is especially important when with others who are not members of one’s household.
For orange counties, social gatherings of any kind, inside or outside, are limited to 50 people. Special, seasonal or commercial events planned for more than 50 people require approval of a safety plan by the local health department. For red counties, the cap is 25 people.
For orange counties, attendance at winter indoor K-12 extracurricular and co-curricular events is limited to 25% capacity. For red, attendance is limited to participants, support personnel and parents/guardians. For orange and red counties, community recreational sports leagues and tournaments may continue with attendance limited to participants, required personnel and parents/guardians only.
For orange counties, capacity in common areas and break rooms should be reduced and users should be socially distanced. For red counties, they must be closed.
Also for red counties, senior care activities must be suspended.
Holcomb announced the state is making $20 million available for local governments to use for compliance efforts like reviewing local event plans, public awareness and enforcement. The details of the funding will be finalized in the next few days.
Businesses are required to place signage at public and employee entrances notifying that face coverings are required, Holcomb said, adding businesses should admit only those who wear face coverings. He also reminded that all customers in restaurants, bars and nightclubs are required to be seated when served and maintain 6 feet of distance between non-household parties.
Holcomb encouraged those in contact with individuals 65 and older and with high-risk medical conditions to consider suspending in-person visits.
The Indiana Department of Homeland Security and the Alcohol and Tobacco Commission with local partners and citizen input will continue to check businesses for compliance, Holcomb also said.
Hancock County added 65 COVID-19 cases to its total Wednesday, all but one of which were confirmed the day before. It topped the high of 52 set on Nov. 4. The county’s case total is now 1,748.
Craig Felty, vice president, chief nursing officer and chief operating officer of Hancock Regional Hospital, said the hospital had 12 COVID-19 inpatients Wednesday, three times the number reported last Wednesday.
“We are concerned but have many plans in place to keep everyone safe,” Felty said of the rising numbers.
The hospital continues to have a dedicated COVID-19 unit at its main campus in Greenfield as well as surge capacity space at its Gateway facility near Mt. Comfort.
Indiana added a new record number of cases Wednesday too, with 5,156, raising its total to 224,374.
The statewide COVID-19 hospital census continued its ascent into all-time highs, with 2,544 patients, 1,999 of whom were confirmed COVID-19 patients while 545 were under investigation.
“Our hospital and health care workforce are being inundated,” said Dr. Kristina Box, Indiana state health officer, during Wednesday’s media briefing.
The state also updated data for long-term care centers Wednesday. Greenfield Healthcare Center added fewer than five new staff cases, raising that total to 18. Springhurst Health Campus in Greenfield added fewer than five new staff cases, keeping that total at fewer than five.
The pandemic prompted decisions from schools in Hancock County this week as well.
The Southern Hancock school district announced Wednesday that New Palestine Junior High, New Palestine Intermediate and New Palestine Elementary will switch to virtual learning effective immediately. All three schools are scheduled to return to in-person instruction on Monday, Nov. 30.
New Palestine High School announced its switch to virtual through the 30th last weekend.
Sugar Creek Elementary and Brandywine Elementary will remain open until further notice, according to the announcement.
Fortville Elementary School closed in-person instruction and switched to virtual starting Nov. 11 through Thanksgiving break due to a significant number of staff who must be absent for extended periods of time, whether for close contact quarantine for themselves or their young children, if their family is impacted directly by COVID-19, or other reasons unrelated to COVID-19.
Greenfield-Central’s school board voted unanimously earlier this week to extend the high school’s current hybrid schedule through the rest of the fall semester. Students are currently attending school at 50% capacity, divided in half alphabetically, with each half going on alternating days while the other half attends class virtually. All students attend virtually on Wednesdays.
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COVID-19 data as of early Wednesday, Nov. 11
Hancock County
- 486 new tests administered
- 65 new positive cases
- 8.8% seven-day positivity rate all tests (Oct. 29-Nov. 4), 4.9% cumulative rate
- 0 new deaths
- 34,414 total tests administered, 21,725 individuals tested
- 1,748 total positive cases
- 15.2% seven-day positivity rate unique individuals (Oct. 29-Nov. 4), 8% cumulative rate
- 45 total deaths
Indiana
- 38,402 new tests administered (April 17-Nov. 10), 16,809 new individuals tested
- 5,156 new positive cases (Oct, 25-Nov. 10)
- 10.3% seven-day positivity rate all tests (Oct. 29-Nov. 4), 6.4% cumulative rate
- 31 new deaths
- 3,307,845 total tests administered
- 224,374 total positive cases
- 19.9% seven-day positivity rate unique individuals (Oct. 29-Nov. 4), 12.1% cumulative rate
- 4,512 total deaths
- 250 total probable deaths
- 43.7% ICU beds in use – non-COVID
- 30% ICU beds in use – COVID
- 26.3% ICU beds available
- 16% ventilators in use – non-COVID
- 7% ventilators in use – COVID
- 77% ventilators available
- Hospital census: 2,544 (1,999 confirmed COVID-19 patients, 545 COVID-19 patients under investigation)
Source: Indiana State Department of Health
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