COVID cases dropping in county

Gus Pearcy, The Lebanon Reporter, Ind.
·2 min read

Oct. 19—Cases of COVID-19 continue to decrease in Boone County, health department director Lisa Younts said.

"There were only 124 cases last week," she told the Boone County Commissioners. "The week before that, we had 136."

According to the Indiana State Department of Health which tracks the spread of the coronavirus, Boone County is designated as yellow with an infection rate of a little more than 8%.

Vaccinations continue to be administered at the health department from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and from 2-6 p.m. every Wednesday and Thursday. The Boone County Health Department is located in the basement of the county annex at 116 W. Washington St., Lebanon.

"We are accepting walk-ins, but appointments can be made on the state's website as well," Younts said.

There is COVID-19 testing continuing on Mondays, Wednesdays and Thursdays from 8 a.m. to noon and from 2-6 p.m. at the Witham Hospital North Pavilion community room.

As far as boosters, the Boone County Health Department is administering boosters for recipients of the Pfizer vaccine for those with specific immune deficiencies or those older than 65. Later this week, Younts said, the department expects to get guidance about a Moderna vaccination booster which would be half of the original dose. She also said the FDA will be discussing boosters for the Johnson and Johnson vaccine as well as mixing the boosters for J&J recipients by administering a mRNA vaccine from Moderna or Pfizer.

"On Oct. 26, the FDA reviews the data on Pfizer vaccine for 5- to 11-year-olds," Younts said expecting recommendations from the CDC and the American Society for Investigative Pathology in early November.

Surrounding counties are not faring as well as Boone in the number of cases. Clinton, Hendricks and Montgomery counties are all in the orange category and registering more cases. Each has a score of 2.5, while Boone County enjoys a 1.5 as well as Hamilton County to the east.

The department received grants through the ISDH to be able to pay members of the Boone County Medical Reserves Corps. The corps has been reactivated to help with the testing and vaccinations.

"We're excited to be able to offer that to them," Younts said.