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COVID-19: CDC recommends Americans wear masks indoors again
The CDC has turned the tide and urged even fully vaccinated Americans to wear masks indoors in areas with high COVID-19 transmission.
Staff Video, USA TODAY
COVID-19 infection rates in Indiana are the highest since May, with Indiana’s seven-day positivity rate last week – July 14-20 – at 6.3%.
Public health experts are most concerned about Indiana’s relatively low vaccination rate. Hoosier state has a lower vaccination rate than each of its surrounding neighbors – Illinois, Michigan, Ohio, and Kentucky.
“Right now, we’re so much worse than most other states,” said Dr. Chandy John, director of the Ryan White Center for Pediatric Infectious Disease and Global Health at Indiana University School of Medicine. “The biggest concern for me is the lack of adequate vaccination and a slowing down in the number of people getting vaccinated. “
IndyStar looked at how Indiana’s infection rates, vaccination rates, and COVID-19 policies compare to those in neighboring states.
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Only 43% of Hoosiers have been fully vaccinated, according to the state’s vaccination dashboard, leaving 57% very vulnerable to COVID-19 infections and transmission of the disease to others. Of the population aged 12 and over, 50.4% are vaccinated.
The seven-day positivity rate in Indiana, an indication of the prevalence of the virus in the community, was 6.3% – more than a percentage higher than Illinois, Ohio and Michigan, and behind only Kentucky.
Here’s how Indiana’s COVID-19 situation compares to its neighboring states.
Indiana
Population: 6.7 million
The seven-day positivity rate was 6.7% on July 29. Indiana reported 769,875 total cases and 13,570 deaths as of Thursday morning.
In total, 43% of the population has been fully vaccinated.
Of all the state’s intensive care beds, 28.2% are available and state ventilators, 78.2% are available.
Illinois
Population: 12.8 million
The seven-day positivity rate was 4% on July 29. Illinois reported 1,415,572 total cases and 23,420 deaths as of Thursday morning.
In total, 50.5% of the population was fully vaccinated and 72% of the population over 12 years of age received at least one dose.
Of all the state’s intensive care beds, 24% are available.
Read more: Indiana St. Vincent hospitals to require associates to be vaccinated against coronavirus
Ohio
Population: 11.8 million
The seven-day positivity rate was 4.3% on July 26, which is the latest data available. Ohio reported a total of 1,125,420 cases and 20,490 deaths as of Thursday morning.
A total of 45.9% of the population was fully vaccinated and 49% received at least one dose.
Of all the state’s intensive care beds, 30% are available and state ventilators, 72% are available.
Kentucky
Population: 4.4 million
The seven-day positivity rate was 8.29% on July 29. Kentucky reported a total of 479,431 cases and 7,325 deaths as of Thursday morning.
In total, 51% of the population has been fully vaccinated.
Michigan
Population: 9.9 million
The seven-day positivity rate was 5.11% on July 26, which is the latest data available. Michigan reported 1,008,429 total cases and 21,165 deaths as of Thursday morning.
In total, 58% of the population was fully vaccinated and 63.2% of the population over 16 years of age received at least one dose.
Of all the state’s intensive care beds, 24.5% are available and state ventilators, 8% are available.
Mask mandate: Despite increase in cases and CDC recommendations, mask warrant is not coming to Indiana schools
What should we do now to slow the spread of the virus?
There are no COVID-19 restrictions in Indiana, although Marion County said on Wednesday that it encourages all individuals to wear masks indoors, regardless of their vaccination status.
Political experts say Governor Holcomb is unlikely to announce a mask mandate despite the new federal directive that everyone wear masks indoors in areas at high risk of infection. This includes 70 of Indiana’s 92 counties, including Marion and Donut Counties.
Start thinking beyond borders
Experts say the best way to slow the spread of COVID-19 is for everyone, not just in Indiana and not just in the United States, but around the world, to get vaccinated as soon as possible.
Marion County is a regional hub, and Indiana welcomes visitors from neighboring states daily.
“We have to start thinking beyond borders,” said Ana Bento, an assistant professor in the Indiana University School of Public Health who studies epidemics. “This is exactly how COVID-19 started. It started in another country. There has been a lot of movement between countries, and it has spread because viruses don’t understand borders.
“Imagine if Indiana is fully vaccinated but there is enough travel between states, it won’t be like, oh, the virus won’t come into Indiana because it’s so well vaccinated.”
The CDC estimates that 82.2% of all cases in Indiana, Illinois, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio, and Wisconsin are of the Delta variant. The proportion of infections that are a Delta variant in the South is slightly lower – 77.2% of cases in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina and Tennessee, according to the CDC.
Contact Ko Lyn Cheang at [email protected]. Follow her on Twitter: @kolyn_cheang.
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