Indiana sees first COVID-19 increases of 2022

INDIANAPOLIS – For the primary time in 2022, month-to-month statewide instances of COVID-19 elevated within the month of April.

In accordance with preliminary information on the Indiana State Division of Well being web site, there have been 9,487 statewide instances of coronavirus reported in April. That may be a slight improve from March when 7,471 instances had been reported, however nonetheless a dramatic drop from the 355,714 reported in January, and 40,772 instances recorded in February.

The ISDH dashboard reveals the present seven-day statewide case depend is 560 instances, a rise of 140 over the earlier 7-day interval.  

“Positively a rise,” stated Melissa McMasters, administrator of the immunization and infectious illness program on the Marion County Public Well being Division. “Nothing like we’ve seen earlier than, however once more, one thing we’re going to maintain our eye on.”

“Should you have a look at Marion County, our instances we’ve got right now, we’ve got round 50,” McMasters stated. “At first of April, we had been wanting extra within the 20 vary.”

“Nonetheless appears fairly good, in the event you ask me all issues thought-about,” stated I.U. Well being’s Director of An infection and Prevention, Kristen Kelley. “We’re cautiously optimistic, however our covid case counts are about 90 % decrease in comparison with the place we had been within the winter.”

Whereas well being consultants are all the time keeping track of complete case counts, well being division and hospital representatives informed us right now they’re actually watching the variety of sufferers hospitalized on account of COVID-19, and the variety of essential care beds getting used. Each of these numbers stay extraordinarily low in comparison with the winter months.

Nonetheless, there has additionally been some motion on that entrance. Johnson Memorial Well being spent greater than a month with no COVID-positive sufferers requiring inpatient care. That modified a pair weeks in the past.

“It’s not horrible proper now, however we’ve had a pair hospitalized COVID sufferers,” stated Johnson Memorial Well being President and CEO Dr. David Dunkle. “We’ve additionally for the primary time shortly had a pair staff out with COVID.”

“Fortunately, they haven’t been very severely in poor health, which is nice, in comparison with what we’ve seen prior to now,” Dunkle added.

Whereas the BA2 sub-variant of COVID-19 has been prevalent in current surges in different elements of the nation and world, McMasters stated it’s too early to inform whether it is contributing to the present improve exhibiting up in Indiana.

“Positively Spring Break occurred lately, additionally proms are occurring proper now,” she stated. “So it is perhaps much less in regards to the virus, however extra about folks getting collectively in several methods.”

Well being consultants additionally agree that official statewide totals are probably decrease than the precise variety of COVID constructive Hoosiers on the market. That’s as a result of individuals who check constructive on at-home assessments are sometimes unlikely to report their check outcomes to their native well being division.  

Whereas at-home assessments are a worthwhile device in figuring out whether or not an individual is affected by allergy symptoms, COVID-19 or one thing else, the hope is that those that check constructive at house will keep at house and observe isolation protocols.

“They should keep house, they should cancel outings, they should isolate themselves from different members of the family,” Dunkle stated.

“Washing your fingers, staying house if you’re sick and in the event you really feel snug sporting a masks, achieve this,” McMasters stated.

“The hospitals are watching, the epidemiologists are watching as a result of we do know that many different states throughout the nation are seeing a rise,” Kelley stated.