The Boone County Commissioners renewed a countywide state of emergency resolution, extending their ability to coordinate and establish a flu clinic and prepare plans for any potential COVID-19 vaccination.
This week, Tom Ryan, the Boone County Health Dept.’s emergency preparedness coordinator, said 1,004 cumulative COVID-19 cases have been reported in Boone County, dating back to March.
But on Sept. 11, the Indiana State Dept. of Health reported an additional 15,814 statewide COVID-19 test results were added to cumulative totals from a lab that recently began sharing electronic results, 279 tests were positive.
“It did drop our positivity rate and the positivity rate of some other counties around the state as well,” Ryan said. “Even though our positivity rate has been cut essentially in half, it is still showing some minor spread, as well, in the community.”
Because the state typically reports COVID-19 data up to a week after the date tests are administered, Ryan said he believes the county will be able to tell if the uptick in social events during the Labor Day weekend contributed to any significant community spread.
Ryan, due to the continued need for emergency planning, specifically to establish a county flu clinic and potential COVID-19 vaccination site, recommended the county’s state of emergency resolution be extended for another week, which the Boone County commissioners unanimously agreed to. The emergency order is set to automatically expire Sept. 21 unless the Boone County commissioners choose to renew it for another seven days.
