The COVID-19 Community Task Force’s latest community spread update showed that two indicators remain in the red and are holding steady.
The COVID-19 dashboard indicators are intended to guide the Bartholomew Consolidated School Corp. on deciding whether or not schools can continue to meet for in-person learning, which began Aug. 10.
Whether or not in-person learning continues at BCSC depends on whether certain COVID-19 data indicates that the school system is in a “minimal,” “moderate” or “substantial” spread category.
Monday’s update from the task force showed the following:
There are 10 new positive cases, and the number is decreasing.
The per capita rate is 15.7 and holding steady.
The percent positive test rate is 10.1 and decreasing.
There are 15 COVID-19 hospitalizations, and the number is holding steady.
Test turnaround time is 2.7 days and increasing.
Per capita rate and hospitalizations remain in the substantial spread or “red” category. The per capita rate has been in the red since Oct. 10. Its most recent peak was 16.0 on Oct. 24. Hospitalizations entered the red on Oct. 21 and have stayed there every day except for Oct. 24, when the indicator dipped into moderate spread before returning to substantial the next day.
Percent positive test rate is in the moderate spread category. If it decreases to below 10, it will be in the minimal spread category.
Test turnaround time is in the minimal spread category. If it increases to three to five days, it will be in the moderate spread category.
Superintendent Jim Roberts has said in the past that an overall designation of substantial spread would result in a move to eLearning.
Recently, the school corporation added a hybrid model to its reopening plan as a possible response to increased spread. Higher COVID-19 indicators could lead to an implementation of this plan, though the hybrid model is divided into categories based on the state’s COVID-19 indicators, not those reported by the task force.
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The COVID-19 Community Task Force posts community spread updates every Monday and Thursday at covid19communitytaskforce.org/data/.
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