News

State team returns to fairgrounds Jan. 26-29 with COVID tests, vaccines

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Indiana Department of Health’s Strike Team has arrived at Wayne County Fairgrounds to offer free COVID tests and vaccines. It is the team’s second visit to the fairgrounds so far in 2022. • Location: Wayne County Fairgrounds, Tom Raper Center, 861 Salisbury Road, Richmond
• Dates: Wednesday, Jan. 26, through Saturday, Jan. 29
• Time: Noon-8 p.m.
• COVID-19 Testing-Rapid and PCR testing available
• COVID-19 Vaccines-Pfizer adult and pediatric; & Moderna
• Moderna Vaccine: 18 and older
• Pfizer Adult Vaccine: Age 12 and older
• Pfizer Pediatric Vaccine: Ages 5-11
• All minors must be accompanied by a parent or guardian
• Booster vaccines will be available
Vaccine appointments can be made at ourshot.in.gov
Testing appointments can be made at coronavirus.in.gov
While walk-ins are welcome, appointments are preferred when possible.

News

CDC: Video can help quickly eliminate gaps around masks for better protection

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On Thursday, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued updated knowledge about masks in light of the more contagious Omicron variant. Experts say any mask worn is better than none, but well-fitting N95 masks are now widely available and offer the highest level of protection, followed by well-fitting disposable surgical masks and KN95s. Gaps, which can be common with surgical masks, let air with respiratory droplets leak in and out around the edges of the mask.  Masks should fit snugly over the nose, mouth and chin without gaps along the side of the face or nose. Gaps can be caused by choosing the wrong size or type of mask and when a mask is worn with facial hair.

News

Looking for a testing or a vaccination site? Here are a few

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Testing

Wayne County Health Department: Free walk-in PCR tests for all (and rapid tests for those younger than 18 or 50-plus with symptoms) from 8 a.m.-6 p.m. Mondays and 8 a.m.-4 p.m. Tuesdays-Saturdays, 601 E. Main St., Richmond; 8 a.m.-4 p.m. Wednesdays at Nettle Creek Hardware, 485 E. Main St., Hagerstown; 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Thursdays at Northeastern schools, 7299 U.S. 27 N., Fountain City; and 8 a.m.-4 p.m. Fridays at Golay Community Center, 1007 E. Main St., Cambridge City. 

Henry Community Health: Drive-thru tests at 1007 N. 16th St., New Castle. Appointments required; 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays; 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays; and 8 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturdays

Reid Health: Drive-thru tests at 1200 Chester Blvd., Richmond, daily from 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m. and 2025 Virginia Ave., Connersville, from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. weekdays. Appointment: (765) 965-4200

Fayette County Health Department: Tests in parking lot at 401 Central Ave., Connersville. Scheduling: coronavirus.in.gov or (765) 825-4013

To make an appointment or find additional testing sites, visit Scheduling.coronavirus.in.gov or call 211.  Vaccinations

Vaccines can be found at many local pharmacies, health departments and medical offices.

News

Local hospital declares lack of space for patients an emergency

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With COVID-19 cases once again on the rise, Reid Health has run out of space for patients and declared the situation an emergency on Sunday. Reid had paused all elective inpatient surgeries early last week and Henry Community Health in New Castle said it was deciding on a daily basis whether it will be able to do them. Officials at both are asking people who have not been vaccinated against the virus to do so. Hospitalizations due to COVID-19 have jumped to their highest level in 11 months, according to figures released last Wednesday by the Indiana State Department of Health. Reid Health took the rare step of issuing a public statement Sunday, Dec.

News

Reid delaying elective inpatient surgeries because of COVID wave

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Beginning Thursday, Sept. 9, Reid Health is pausing all elective inpatient surgeries as the health system works to manage the latest surge of COVID-19 cases. Wayne County moved Wednesday, Sept. 8, to the state’s worst advisory level for community spread, which is the red level. 

Emergent/urgent surgeries will proceed, as will outpatient surgeries scheduled at Reid Outpatient Surgery & Endoscopy (ROSE). All scheduled surgeries will be reviewed for urgency, and the surgeon’s office will reach out to those patients who need to be rescheduled.

News

Health department: 1 of 4 new COVID deaths was 30-something

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Four more Wayne County residents’ deaths have been related to COVID-19, with one of the new victims in their 30s, according to Wayne County Health Department Executive Director Christine Stinson. That person is the county’s youngest COVID-related fatality since the pandemic began in March 2020. Stinson shared the news of the newest deaths with Wayne County Commissioners on Wednesday morning (Sept. 8) at their weekly meeting in Richmond. Stinson’s announcement came before Indiana’s data is announced weekdays at noon on the state Department of Health website at www.coronavirus.in.gov. 

Stinson had sent out a news release Tuesday afternoon announcing three deaths attributed to the virus, with one person in their mid-40s, one who was 60 years old, and one who was in their early 70s.

News

Wayne County attributes first death in 40s age group to COVID; nearly 70 kids test positive over weekend

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Wayne County has lost its first 40-something resident to COVID-related illness. In addition, nearly 70 kids and teens tested positive for the virus during the Labor Day weekend, which is about the same number of patients in containment areas at a local hospital on Tuesday, Sept. 7. Over those four days, Wayne County recorded 227 new COVID cases, with 68 of them being in those 18 and younger. It recorded COVID-related deaths for a patient in their mid-40s, a 60-year-old, and someone in their early 70s.

News

Wayne County adds 144 new COVID cases Tuesday; drive-up vaccine, testing site at Ivy Tech closes Wednesday

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Wayne County Health Department reported 144 lab-confirmed positive cases of COVID-19 on Tuesday, Aug. 31, while state officials are offering a three-day drive-up testing and vaccination site at a local college to meet increased local demand. Of those new illnesses reported Tuesday, 54 were in ages 18 and younger. After a surge of positive tests in recent days, the 1,428 cases reported during August 2021 makes it the county’s second-highest month for infections. November 2020 has been the highest month tallied for Wayne County, with 1,801 cases.

COVID 19 Wayne County

State bringing vaccines, testing to church, Ivy Tech on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday

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Temporary vaccination and testing sites operated by state officials are being operated from noon to 8 p.m. Aug. 30-31 and Sept. 1 at First Baptist Church Family Life Center, 709 S. Memorial Drive, New Castle, and in a drive-thru format at Ivy Tech Community College, 2357 Chester Blvd., Richmond. Both sites will offer rapid antigen and PCR tests, and the Pfizer or Johnson & Johnson vaccine. Find a full list of participating sites for vaccines and/or COVID tests, respectively, at www.ourshot.in.gov.and scheduling.coronavirus.in.gov.

Here are a few options:

Wayne County Health Department’s COVID vaccination clinic is open from 9 a.m.-4 p.m. weekdays, and is open to anyone 12 and older.