Bartholomew Consolidated School Corp. officials have released another update on local COVID-19 indicators, which will guide the school corporation on whether a safe reopening can occur on Aug. 10.
The most recent report, released Thursday, shows that the per capita positive rate (per 100,000) was 6.8 as of Aug. 5. The rate falls within the “moderate spread” category, which is where it has been there for the past two weeks with the exception of July 29 (rate of 11.3) and 30 (rate of 10.3) when it rose to “substantial spread.” If the rate becomes less than five, it will move into the “minimal/no spread” category.
The report shows seven COVID hospitalizations as of Wednesday, which is in the minimal/no spread category.
On Friday morning, there were 10 patients hospitalized with COVID-19 at Columbus Regional Hospital and an additional three patients hospitalized with symptoms consistent with COVID-19, but still awaiting test results, hospital officials said. Two of the 10 patients hospitalized Friday were in critical condition, and the other eight are listed in stable condition or stable-critical condition, officials said.
Ten to 14 hospitalizations would put the indicator into the moderate spread category. Fifteen or more would make it substantial spread.
“We appreciate CRH providing these results to the public and will continue to work with them and local health officials to monitor community spread,” said Superintendent Jim Roberts in a recent statement. “One day, and one set of metrics, will not determine whether we are open or closed as a school corporation. With a regional health care provider like CRH and these recent results, it’s important for us to wait on the Bartholomew County data so that we can understand the local impact behind this information.”
BCSC is currently set to reopen Monday for in-person learning under the moderate spread category. An overall designation of substantial spread would result in a move to eLearning for all students.
The new report shows the school corporation in a continued overall moderate spread category with the following indicators:
Per Capita Positive Rate (per 100,000) was 6.8 as of Aug. 5
Per Capita Positive Rate Trend was decreasing as of Aug. 5
Percent Positive Test Rate was 6.7% as of Aug. 1
Percent Positive Test Rate Trend was increasing as of Aug. 1
Test Turnaround Time (average of the prior week) was 3.1 days as of Aug. 3
Seven COVID hospitalizations as of Aug. 5
The percent positive test rate was in the minimal/no spread category as of Aug. 1. If it surpasses 10%, it will be in the moderate spread category.
Average test turnaround for the week of July 27, as reported on Aug. 3, was in the moderate spread category. Average test turnaround for the week of Aug. 3 will likely not be released until BCSC’s next report on Monday.
BCSC’s metrics, which include data from CRH and the Indiana State Department of Health, take into account not only COVID-19 spread in Bartholomew County, but also the surrounding counties. Roberts acknowledged that there may be some lag in the state numbers that are being reported.
[sc:pullout-title pullout-title=”Where to learn more” ][sc:pullout-text-begin]
BCSC has been releasing reports on its COVID-19 indicators on Mondays and Thursdays. These reports can be found at www.bcscschools.org.
[sc:pullout-text-end]
