Monroe County remains one of Indiana’s 17 “yellow” counties, while the majority of the state has turned “orange.” But the county does appear to be experiencing another COVID-19 wave.
The Indiana State Department of Health’s county metric system averages a seven-day positivity rate score and a weekly cases per 100,000 residents score to determine the county’s weekly overall score. That score then has a corresponding classification of blue, yellow, orange or red; blue being the least severe and red being the most severe.
While Monroe County’s 154 weekly cases per 100,000 residents earns an “orange” classification, its seven-day positivity rate has remained below 5%, earning a “blue’ classification. These two metrics averaged equate a “yellow” weekly overall score.
Despite this comparably optimistic score, Monroe County reported 57 new positive cases, increasing the county total to 4,007. The death toll remained at 42. According to ISDH, the county has administered 140,848 tests on 55,529 individuals with a 4.3% seven-day positivity rate.
Indiana reported 4,879 new cases and a record-high 63 new deaths, increasing state totals to 219,338 and 4,481, respectively. The state has administered 3.2 million tests with a 9.9% seven-day positivity rate.
COVID-19 hospitalizations have risen every day this month to their peak at 2,336. Indiana Hospital Association President Brian Tabor expressed concern in an online statement.
"All Hoosiers should be alarmed at the COVID-19 trends we are seeing across the state," Tabor said. "In recent weeks, new cases have reached the highest level to date and hospitalizations have increased by 143% since October 1."
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