The spreading Delta variant and stagnating COVID vaccination rates have Indiana health officials concerned.
As of July 14, only 56 percent of Monroe County residents are fully vaccinated against COVID-19.
IU Health South Central says only one other county in its region, Orange County, has 50 percent of its residents fully vaccinated. Morgan, Brown, Lawrence, Owen and Greene Counties remain below 50 percent.
“The state has reported, and this is true for us, 12- to 15-year-olds have the lowest rate of vaccinations, and they have been eligible for vaccinations the least amount of time,” said Monroe County Health Administrator Penny Caudill.
Caudill says about 20 percent of positive cases in the county contain the Delta variant.
“The Delta variant is here, we know it’s easy to transmit, so please be cautious,” said Caudill.
On Friday, the state health department reported 561 new COVID cases and five deaths.
Monroe County and IU officials say, despite the increase in cases, they do not plan to reinstitute mandatory masks and other restrictions at this time.
