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COVID vaccines now offered to those 55-plus, or any age with qualifying health issues

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Hoosiers 55 and older are now eligible to receive the #COVID19 vaccine. As of March 2, individuals who have been identified by their physician as being part of a special health population also will be able to be scheduled for a vaccine. For the first time, those who have one of the following conditions are eligible to have their provider submit their information:

Sickle cell disease
Down syndrome
Post-solid organ transplant
People who are actively in treatment (chemotherapy, radiation, surgery) for cancer now or in the last three months, or with active primary lung cancer or active hematologic cancers (lymphoma, leukemia and multiple myeloma)

To make an appointment, their health provider first must submit their patient into the provider portal that was provided by Indiana State Department of Health. The patient then will receive a unique registration link to register for an appointment. The announcement was made shortly before 9 a.m. Tuesday, March 2, just one week after shots were made available to those 60-64.

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Indiana opens COVID-19 shots to those 60-64

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Hoosiers 60 and older are now eligible to receive the #COVID19 vaccine. The announcement was made shortly before 9 a.m. Tuesday, Feb. 23. Those eligible can register at ourshot.in.gov or call a local phone number. State health officials urge vaccination seekers to be patient as wait times might be longer than usual.

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Majority of Indiana counties at orange COVID level this week, Wayne better at yellow

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In a week when Hoosiers are still digging out from a significant winter storm, Governor Holcomb’s news conference brought welcome news regarding Indiana’s COVID-19 positivity rates.  The color-coded maps “look the best they have in months” according to Dr. Kristina Box, Indiana’s State Health Commissioner Wednesday, February 17. No counties were at the red level this week, down from 4 last week.  Wayne County remains at the yellow level first achieved last week; however, the infection level decreased from 1.5 to level 1.  While this is a reason to be optimistic, County residents must continue to be diligent about measures to keep the spread contained until the majority are vaccinated. Other highlights:

Because of the unpredictability of when vaccine shipments will arrive in the state, Indiana will keep the threshold of those eligible at 65 and older.  Dr. Lindsay Weaver, Indiana’s Chief Medical Officer suggests that anyone receiving the first vaccine dose should take a picture of their vaccination card to help ensure the second dose is from the same manufacturer. Many organizations are helping with registration, transportation, and other barriers to getting vaccines into the arms of those who are eligible, including Area Agencies on Aging, AARP, library staff across the state and managed care partners.  Success stories were shared as these contacts have reached people who said they had not previously planned to get vaccinated. Dr. Box responded to a question about whether individuals who test positive with a variant strain of COVID are notified.  She responded that they are as ISDH wants to do additional contact tracing.  The other strains have been found to be more contagious than the dominant strain the US has fought since the pandemic first began.

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Wayne County’s Level 2 travel watch expires

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The Level 2 travel watch expired at 6 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 16,  and Wayne County is now on a lower Level 1 advisory for roads maintained by Wayne County Highway Department and streets in Richmond and Centerville. A Level 1 travel advisory warns that those who must travel should use caution because of isolated blowing and drifting snow and scattered slick spots, making travel still hazardous.  It does not impose any restrictions on travel on county roadways. Motorists may travel at their own risk. If you must drive during this advisory, remain alert and use caution as you may encounter slick patches on roads and rapidly changing road conditions, especially where snow is blowing across a road.

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WCHD closes COVID vaccination, test site Tuesday; county allowing essential travel only

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Wayne County Health Department is announcing the closure of their COVID vaccine site for Tuesday, Feb. 16.  All appointments will be rescheduled for a later date.  WCHD officials said they will wait until all the bad weather is over before rescheduling. The health department also announced the closure of its Covid testing site along with the OptumServe testing site in Cambridge City on Tuesday, February 16th. County snow emergency

At 5 p.m. Monday, Feb. 15,  Wayne County Commissioners will declare a Level II Essential Travel Permitted Snow Emergency to be in effect in Wayne County, the City of Richmond and the Town of Centerville.  Possible Heavy Snow Accumulations, Blowing and Drifting Snow, road conditions will deteriorate rapidly this evening.  This Snow Emergency shall remain in effect until weather and road conditions improve sufficiently to ensure routine safe travel.

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Clues sought after man found dead on sidewalk near school

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Police are seeking information after a 30-year-old man was found dead on a Richmond sidewalk. Shortly after 7:15 a.m. Feb. 3, Richmond Police Department first-shift patrol officers were dispatched to the 1800 block of North C Street in reference to a man down call. The caller reported the person was lying on the sidewalk and not moving. Officers arrived and located Kevin Daniels, 30, of Richmond, deceased.  Capt. Curt Leverton said it appeared Daniels had been on the sidewalk for a period of time.  The Wayne County Coroner’s Office was called to the scene to assist.

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Indiana now offering COVID vaccines to ages 65-69

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Indiana now has opened vaccinations to those who are 65 or older, or are first responders or health care workers. Volunteer first responders who interact with the public also are eligible. Reid Health operates a regional vaccination center at Kuhlman Center on the Wayne County Fairgrounds that generally has same-day appointments at Kuhlman Center between 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays and from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturdays. As of late last week, about 200 open appointments still were available per day at Kuhlman Center, according to Dr. Thomas Huth of Reid Health. On Tuesday evening, appointments were plentiful on Wednesday and in the coming days at Kuhlman Center.

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Wayne County schools delaying Monday start

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Wayne County’s public school districts announced delayed starts for Monday, Feb. 1, because of predicted icy road conditions. Here’s what we have gathered so far from local districts:

Centerville-Abington

Centerville schools will be delayed 90 minutes. Nettle Creek

School will begin at 10 a.m., so everything will be delayed 90 minutes. “We will be monitoring the weather tonight and the roads tomorrow morning to determine if we need to conduct an eLearning Day or not,” Superintendent Kyle Barrentine wrote in a note to families.  “If you do not get another message, we will operate on the delay.

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Wayne County’s high school gyms now can admit fans

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Hoosier Hysteria can now begin, as fans of Wayne County high school sports will have a chance to attend games as sectionals approach. Local high school gyms are now allowed to fill 25 percent of their seating capacity as long as COVID cases continue decreasing from their recent surge. Those numbers will include cheerleaders and spirit bands, who have had to be sidelined during the indoor winter sports season. That development was announced Friday in a letter signed by the superintendents of the county’s five local public high schools (Centerville, Hagerstown, Lincoln, Northeastern and Richmond). It will include all winter sports, such as basketball, wrestling, swimming and gymnastics.