Just how high will the numbers rise before any changes are made? That’s the question Hoosiers are posing to Gov. Eric Holcomb and the Indiana State Department of Health as the spread of COVID-19 intensifies in Indiana.
Right now, it’s anyone’s guess as to what comes next.
Indiana has seen a significant increase in COVID-19 cases, and more worryingly hospitalizations, over the past three weeks since the state moved to Stage 5 of Holcomb’s Back on Track Indiana plan.
During that time, the state hasn’t changed any of its rules — leaving it up to each individual county to handle the pandemic. Some counties, such as Bartholomew, have kept the spread down, but a significant number of counties are on the verge of full-blown outbreaks.
While the state has claimed data is being used to make decisions, recent numbers suggest otherwise.
From Sept. 30 to Oct. 14 the number of hospitalizations in Indiana increased 36%. The current number of hospitalizations is the most since early May.
The number of new cases are also exploding statewide. During the week of Oct. 4, the state set a new record for the total number of cases for each individual day of the week. It also recorded the most cases for a week during that time, with just under 10,000 cases, a number that will likely be broken when Sunday’s numbers are released tomorrow at noon.
On its color-coded county metrics map, ISDH showed that 21 states were in the orange (moderate to high) spread category last Wednesday. The previous week, that number was eight.
There were 24 blue, 46 yellow, 21 orange, and one red county this week on the map. Bartholomew, Jennings and Decatur counties were all blue, Johnson and Brown counties were both in the yellow, and Jackson County moved to orange. Jackson’s score of 2.5 was attributed to a seven-day positive rate of 12.55% and weekly cases per 100,00 residents of 259.
Outside cities and states have taken notice of Indiana’s numbers, and are largely discouraging Hoosiers from entering their borders.
Chicago added neighboring Indiana to its travel order on Tuesday, requiring a two-week quarantine for most Hoosiers traveling to the city. Those caught breaking the rule can be fined. On Wednesday, Ohio joined a growing list of states that have Indiana on their travel advisory lists.
Few, if any, envy the position Holcomb is currently in. He has a tough task of balancing the needs and wants of many on top of it being an election year.
Holcomb reminded Hoosiers that Stage 5 isn’t the end of the pandemic during his most recent press conference, and that it’s going to take personal responsibility to get the virus under control. He pleaded with Hoosiers to adhere to social distancing guidelines, and continue to wear a mask — a measure that has now been extended into November.
While the notion is admirable, trusting fellow citizens to do the right thing, the reality is that there are many not wearing masks or social distancing.
Dr. Kris Box, state health commissioner, and Holcomb have said they will roll the state back to earlier stages, but what’s the breaking point? Most indicators suggest we’ve reached it as a state.
This is about Hoosier lives.
