This past week, Hoosiers got their first true taste of summer.
With temperatures eclipsing 80 degrees, many locals found themselves spending a few extra hours enjoying the outdoors after school and work in Bartholomew County.
While the warmer weather was welcome — especially given how it snowed a little more than three weeks ago — some even brighter developments unfolded on Tuesday.
Earlier this week, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention eased COVID-19 guidelines for wearing masks outdoors, saying that fully vaccinated Americans don’t need to cover their faces any more unless in large crowds of strangers.
The recommendation was made after at least half of U.S adults had already received at least one dose of the vaccine, and more than a third of Americans were fully vaccinated. CDC Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky said her team made the call based on increased numbers in vaccinations and declining numbers of COVID-19 cases and deaths nationwide.
In Bartholomew County, around 27% of the population was vaccinated to start this week. While that number has increased since Monday, the community is still lagging behind the national average in vaccinations.
If there already isn’t enough incentive to get vaccinated, the latest news from the CDC should be another reason to encourage citizens to sign up for a vaccination.
With numerous graduation parties, holidays, and vacations coming up that will be spent outdoors — not to mention community events like the annual SALUTE! concert — those events would be more enjoyable without needing to wear face coverings.
It’s going to still take a large effort before we can ditch masks and social distancing, but it’s uplifting to know that we are trending towards that way of life.
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To sign up for a COVID-19 vaccination appointment, visit ourshot.in.gov or call 211.
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