.@IndyMayorJoe: local capacity limits & midnight closing order for bars and restaurants will continue. Unlike much of Indiana, Indy #coronavirus numbers aren't rising, but they aren't dropping much either, hovering at or just above 5%. @Marion_Health wants sustained rate below 5.
Hogsett reiterates recommendation, announced previously, to "get creative" with #Halloween celebrations rather than face-to-face #trickortreating.
Hogsett: "One of the great challenges of the #COVID era is putting our neighbors' health ahead of our own comfort. I can't make anyone do that, but I can and will ask."
.@Marion_Health director Virginia Caine reminds everyone to get #flushot: "#MaskUp, lather up and #SleeveUp." She says it's doubly important with a #pandemic of a different virus already in progress.
Caine notes Marion County was around 20% positivity rate in April and May. Dropped dramatically in June amid restrictions, rose in July (though not close to earlier heights) to prompt renewed restrictions, now has "plateaued."
While positivity rate is flat, daily numbers of cases are rising over last two weeks, from 84 a day to 133. Caine wants to push it down to 35 before loosening restrictions. "We have to do a really good job of wearing our masks, observing our social distance, & washing hands."
Caine: Indy ER visits for #COVID19 symptoms have climbed over last month, from 15-20 a day to 25.
Similarly, #COVID hospitalizations in Indy have risen over last month, from 5 a day to 8. Caine: "That's not that bad, but it is something for us to monitor and be very cautious about."
Deaths have held steady around 2 a day.
Deaths have held steady around 2 a day.
Caine: since start of school in early Aug, cases have held very steady between 10-15 a day. "That's a remarkable achievement" given 1000s of students. Even high school students, considered more likely to transmit or catch virus, have held steady around 5-6 a day.
Caine: MCHD will be "looking carefully" over next week at whether to let high school students fully return to in-person classes, given encouraging numbers in that age group.
Indy won't set "official" #trickortreating hours, since it's trying to discourage it in the first place. But there's no outright ban on trick-or-treating.
Caine: one problem MCHD is trying to address is reports of who have (illegally) fired workers, especially minorities, who test positive. She says that discourages workers from doing what they're supposed to and stay home, which in turn can fuel spread.
• • •
Missing some Tweet in this thread? You can try to
force a refresh
