Delaware County COVID-19 Update, March 25th

This illustration, created at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), reveals ultrastructural morphology exhibited by coronaviruses. Note the spikes that adorn the outer surface of the virus, which impart the look of a corona surrounding the virion.This illustration, created at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), reveals ultrastructural morphology exhibited by coronaviruses. Note the spikes that adorn the outer surface of the virus, which impart the look of a corona surrounding the virion.

Editor’s note: The following COVID-19 update is brought to you through a collaboration of healthcare partners including Delaware County Health Department, Delaware County Emergency Management Agency, Delaware County Office of Information, and other major healthcare providers. Delaware County weekly COVID-19 updates are released every Thursday and include information from the Indiana State Department of Health county metrics dashboard, which is updated every Wednesday afternoon.

Earlier this week, Gov. Eric Holcomb announced that all Indiana residents aged 16 and older will be eligible to schedule a COVID-19 vaccine beginning March 31.

“What’s been the real, life and death game-changer has been access to vaccines,” Holcomb said in his state address.

During the address, he also announced that, beginning April 6, all decisions about venue capacity will be up to local officials, and the state-wide mask mandate will be reduced to a mask advisory, though “local governments, businesses and other entities may impose more stringent guidelines, such as choosing to keep mask wearing mandatory in their facilities.”

“When I visit my favorite restaurant or conduct a public event, I will continue to appropriately wear a mask. It is the right thing to do,” Holcomb said. “Hoosiers who take these recommended precautions will help us get to what I hope is the tail end of this pandemic.”

This week, Delaware County once again ranked blue on the Indiana State Department of Health’s county metrics map. Since the last county-wide update was released on March 18, Delaware County has reported 55 new cases and 0 new deaths. The county’s 7-day positivity rate is currently 3.8%. As of March 24, IU Health Ball Memorial Hospital is treating 8 confirmed positive cases, 4 of which are Delaware County residents.

As of March 25, Delaware County has fully vaccinated 18,378 individuals—approximately 16% of the county’s population.

The Delaware County Health Department is encouraging the community to share why they vaccinated (or plan to vaccinate) through its #IVaccinateForThem campaign. As part of the campaign, Delaware County Emergency Operations Center has released a series of videos highlighting the vaccination stories of various community members.

To share your vaccination story, visit IVaccinateForThem.com or post to social media with the hashtag #IVaccinateForThem.

The following Indiana residents are currently eligible to receive a vaccine:

  • Anyone aged 40 or older
  • Healthcare workers
  • First responders
  • Patients at highest risk of severe illness (visit in.gov/vaccine for a complete list)
  • Educators and support staff

Meridian Health Services announced it will host two drive-up vaccination clinics—with no pre- registration through the state’s website needed—on Saturday, March 27 for individuals who meet the state’s eligibility requirements. The drive-up vaccines will take place at Meridian Health Pediatrics (205 N Tillotson Ave.) and Meridian School Clinic (1601 E 26th St. at Southside Middle School). Vaccines are distributed on a first come, first served basis. Learn more here.

This week, Open Door Health Services announced that anyone aged 18 and older can join its “no-waste list.” When the vaccine clinic has extra doses of the vaccine that must be used to avoid waste, it will call those on the waitlist and offer the vaccine to them. Learn more and register here.

For additional updates on vaccine information in Delaware County, visit OurShotDelawareCounty.org.

For those who are not yet eligible to receive the vaccine, health officials encourage continued diligence on testing and quarantining. Both rapid and standard tests are available throughout the county. For more information on testing locations andcase numbers in Delaware County, visit dcema.org.


Frequently Asked Questions

Who is currently eligible to receive a COVID-19 vaccine?

As of March 25, the following Indiana residents are eligible to receive a vaccine:

  • Anyone aged 40 or older
  • Healthcare workers
  • First responders
  • Patients at highest risk of severe illness (visit in.gov/vaccine for a complete list)

These individuals will receive a unique registration link by text or email, or may call 211 after receiving the notification.

  • Educators and support staff

Those who are eligible for the vaccine will be notified via postal mail from the state, as well as through additional communications efforts. Eligibility information will also be shared online at ourshot.IN.gov as updates become available.

Beginning March 31, all Indiana residents aged 16 or older will be eligible for the vaccine.

How do I get vaccinated for COVID-19?

Individuals can schedule online or by phone. There is no charge for the vaccination.

To schedule online:

  • Visit IN.gov and follow the instructions to find a vaccine site.
  • The site will ask questions to make sure you meet criteria.
  • A map will display vaccination sites closest to you.
  • Choose a site and register for a date and time.

To schedule by phone:

  • For those unable to register online, call 211 to register by phone. The call center is open daily from 8 a.m.–9 p.m.

Other notes of importance:

  • Registering another individual on their behalf is permitted.
  • Transportation assistance can be requested by calling 211.
  • Citizenship is not required for vaccination, and citizenship information is not collected.
  • Photo ID may be required at the time of vaccination.

Local vaccination information can be found at OurShotDelawareCounty.org.

The Health Department has also released a document that addresses common myths and misconceptions about the COVID-19 vaccine.

Muncie Public Library is offering assistance to those who need help booking a vaccination appointment online. Call 765-747-8200 between the hours of 1 and 5 p.m. any day to schedule an appointment at any of MPL’s locations to gain access to a computer. Library staff will assist in using safety procedures developed due to the pandemic.

How effective is the COVID-19 vaccine?

There are currently three vaccines approved for emergency use in the Unites States: the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine, the Moderna vaccine and the Johnson & Johnson vaccine. In clinical trials, the Pfizer vaccine was proven to be 95% effective in preventing COVID-19, and the Moderna vaccine 94.1% effective. The Johnson & Johnson vaccine was shown to be 66% effective in preventing infection and 85% effective in preventing serious illness. All three vaccines were shown to be 100% effective in preventing hospitalization or death as a result of COVID-19.

I got tested for COVID-19. Now what?

Individuals who get tested because they have symptoms should quarantine after their test until they receive their results. If the test is positive, they must continue to isolate. Isolation can end after ALL of the following have occurred:

  • 10 days have passed since onset of symptoms
  • If fever was a symptom, 24 hours have passed with no fever, without use of fever-reducing drugs
  • Other symptoms are improving (however, loss of taste/smell may persist and does not to be factored into this requirement)

However, a person who has tested positive should follow their healthcare provider’s advice on when to end isolation.

The official recommendation for quarantine of someone identified as a close contact remains at 14 days. The CDC has announced options for shortening this timeframe to 10 or even possibly 7 days, if certain criteria are met. We suggest these options only be considered for use by individuals who would fall under the CDC guidelines for “Critical Infrastructure.”Employers retain the ability to, and are recommended to, require 14-day quarantine of any potentially exposed staff members. The 7- and 10-day options, in summary:

  • Quarantine can end after day 10 without testing and if NO symptoms have been reported during daily monitoring.
  • When testing is readily available, quarantine can end as early as day 7 with a negative test result;

HOWEVER, the test can be conducted no earlier than day 5 of the quarantine period.

In either situation, after stopping quarantine, people should:

  • Watch for symptoms until 14 days after exposure.
  • If they have symptoms, immediately self-isolate and contact their local public health authority or healthcare provider, as well as their employer if necessary.
  • Wear a mask, stay at least 6 feet from others, wash their hands, and avoid crowds.

Again, the standing recommendation for quarantine of close contacts remains at 14 days.

For more information, please visit cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/if-you-are-sick/quarantine or cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/more/scientific-brief-options-to-reduce-quarantine.

What is a “close contact”?

The CDC definition of “close contact” includes the following:

  • You were within 6 feet of someone who has COVID-19 for a total of 15 minutes or more, with or without masks. (This is 15 total minutes over the course of 24 hours. E.g., three five-minute periods of time throughout one day would count as close contact. )
  • You provided care at home to someone who is sick with COVID-19.
  • You had direct physical contact with the person (hugged or kissed them).
  • You shared eating or drinking utensils.
  • They sneezed, coughed, or somehow got respiratory droplets on you.

Anyone who tests positive should proactively seek to notify anyone they have had close contact with, as far back as 48 hours before their symptom onset. Positive individuals should also cooperate with any contact tracing calls they receive from the State, so that state contact tracers can also document and notify close contacts of their need to quarantine.

Should I/my child get tested for COVID-19 even if only mild cold-like symptoms, like a runny nose, are present?

Anyone experiencing symptoms of illness should isolate at home to avoid the risk of spreading illness to others. With the improved availability of testing, DCHD would further recommend testing to any such individual. Additional informationconcerning when you can return to work and what to do if your test is positive is available for review at cdc.gov.

What should I do if I witness a business and/or citizen failing to comply with guidelines from the state or county?

Complaints can be lodged through the Delaware County Health Department Citizen Complaint Form, most easily available through the Delaware County Coronavirus Hub at dcema.org.

What are the symptoms of COVID-19?

People who have COVID-19 may exhibit any range of these symptoms, and some may even show no symptoms at all. Symptoms may appear 2–14 days after being exposed to the virus. Some symptoms of COVID-19 include:

  • Fever or chills
  • Cough
  • Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
  • Fatigue
  • Muscle or body aches
  • Headache
  • New loss of taste or smell
  • Sore throat
  • Congestion or runny nose
  • Nausea or vomiting
  • Diarrhea

Anyone with these symptoms should stay home as much as possible and limit their exposure to others. Children who have any of the above symptoms should be kept home from school. For more information, read the Indiana State Department of Health’sguidelines for returning to school here.

Families with children in school can find additional information and resources at educationsupporthub.com.

What should I do if I think I might have COVID-19?

If you have any of the above symptoms or have been in contact with someone who tested positive for COVID-19, you should immediately begin to self-quarantine to prevent spreading the disease to others. You should also call a local health clinic to arrange to be tested. Follow your doctor’s orders and continue to self-quarantine until you receive negative test results.

Children who exhibit any of the above symptoms should NOT be sent to school. If your child shows any of the listed symptoms, keep the child home in quarantine and contact your healthcare provider for further guidance. Families with children in school can find additional information and resources at educationsupporthub.com.

Where can I get tested?

Several local health clinics offer COVID-19 tests, including Meridian Health Services, Open Door Health Services, and more.

Open Door offers free community tests for individuals with or without symptoms, made available through a partnership with the Delaware County Health Department. Those who wish to get tested are required to register online in advance at opendoorhs.org/testing. These tests are available at Open Door’s 333 S. Madison Street location and at Worthen Arena at Ball State University. Open Door also offers rapid tests during patient visits; non-Open Door patients can receive a rapid test at Open Door Urgent Care on E. 29th Street.

For a complete list of testing locations in Delaware County, visit the Delaware County Indiana Coronavirus Hub. Be advisedthat some locations may test only those who exhibit symptoms of COVID- 19.

Staying Safe from COVID-19

To keep yourself safe from COVID-19 and to reduce the spread of the disease, wash your hands often for at least 20 seconds, wear a mask when inside public spaces and when in crowded areas, and practice social distancing.

If you have symptoms of COVID-19 or have been in contact with someone who tested positive, schedule an appointment to get tested as soon as possible. Self-quarantine until you have received negative test results. A list of testing locations can be foundon the Delaware County Indiana Coronavirus hub.

In accordance with the Governor’s latest Executive Order, events can now occur with attendance potentially as high as 100% of a venue’s capacity or up to 250 people, following submission of an event safety plan to the local health department and subsequent approval. Mask use and distancing requirements remain.