The COVID-19 Community Task Force strongly recommended Wednesday that everyone in Bartholomew County wear masks in all indoor spaces regardless of vaccination status as local COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations rose to their highest levels in months.
There were 11 people hospitalized Wednesday with COVID-19 at Columbus Regional Hospital — including one child — according to preliminary hospital figures.
That is the highest number of hospitalizations reported at CRH since Feb. 26, when there were 16 people hospitalized.
The child hospitalized with COVID-19 at CRH was listed in stable condition on Wednesday, the hospital said.
Additionally, there were 18 cases of COVID-19 reported in Bartholomew County on Tuesday, tied for the most cases reported in a single day since late February, according to the Indiana State Department of Health.
The task force, which met virtually Wednesday, said it based its recommendation on, among other things, updated guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which recommended last week that vaccinated people return to wearing masks indoors in areas of the country with weekly transmission rates of at least 50 cases per 100,000 residents.
The CDC listed Bartholomew County as having a seven-day transmission rate of 84.75 cases per 100,000 residents.
“The increase in cases over a relatively short period of time is very concerning,” said Dr. Tom Sonderman, vice president and chief medical officer of Columbus Regional Health. “It shows what we already knew about this new variant of COVID-19 — that it is very easily spread among unvaccinated persons and vaccinated people can transmit the disease.”
“Particularly concerning is that of those who are unvaccinated and are infected, the likelihood of serious illness and hospitalization is much higher than someone who is fully vaccinated,” Sonderman said.
The CDC also recommended indoor masks for all teachers, staff, students and visitors to schools, regardless of vaccination status.
The task force, which was formed in February 2020, includes representatives from Columbus Regional Health, the Columbus mayor’s office, Bartholomew County Health Department, Bartholomew County Emergency Management, Bartholomew Consolidated School Corp. and Cummins Inc., among others.
One of the major concerns, health officials said, is that vaccinated people can, in some cases, still transmit the virus to others. However, health officials say COVID-19 vaccines are still effective at preventing serious and moderate illness, including from the delta variant.
Based on data from the CDC and Indiana State Department of Health, the delta variant of the virus continues to rise in prevalence in our state and region, making it the overwhelmingly predominant strain in our community, the task force said in a statement. “Therefore, based on CDC guidelines for areas of significant spread, the COVID-19 Task Force strongly recommends masking in all indoor spaces, regardless of whether or not the individual is fully vaccinated against COVID-19.”
The local recommendation came after the task force met to discuss “several issues of concern.”
During the meeting, officials from CRH and the Bartholomew County Health Department presented information on COVID-19 and the delta variant to the other members, who then “will utilize this data to make decisions about the response of their individual entities,” the task force said in a statement.
The task force does not have the authority to issue mandates or public health orders, but rather serves as an advisory board of sorts for other organizations to make their own decisions, said spokeswoman Kelsey DeClue.
The local recommendation also came just days after the Indiana State Department of Health said it is recommending that all K-12 schools in Indiana follow the CDC guidance “regardless of the level of community spread.”
“We are very strongly recommending that everyone in schools, and in the state, really, follow the CDC recommendations with regards to masking, and that is masking students, teachers and staff at schools at all times,” state health Commissioner Dr. Kristina Box said on Friday.
Additionally, the American Association of Pediatrics has recommended that “all students older than 2 years and all school staff should wear face masks at school” with some exceptions for certain medical or developmental conditions.
However, Flat Rock-Hawcreek School Corp. has said it is sticking with its guidelines to make masks “optional” except for on school buses, beginning with today’s first day of school.
Superintendent Shawn Price said that there will be “no changes to the guidelines for tomorrow’s first day.”
Currently, Flat Rock-Hawcreek School Corp.’s reopening plan makes masks optional except on buses due to a federal mandate. Students and staff must wear masks when visiting the health office.
“FRHC will continue to monitor COVID numbers in our schools and community as we open school …,” Price said.
Bartholomew Consolidated School Corp.’s current reopening plan states that, in most situations, masks are optional for both students and staff, but “recommended” for those at risk or unvaccinated. However, masks are required on buses due to a federal mandate. The reopening plan also states that BCSC will adjust its guidelines “as needed based on the level of community spread.”
BCSC Communications Coordinator Josh Burnett said Wednesday that “We aren’t going to be sharing anything new today (Wednesday).”
