COVID-19 Increases Number of Red Status Counties in Indiana

(UNDATED) – As of Wednesday morning, a total of 219,885 people in Indiana received their first COVID-19 shot, or roughly 3.2 percent of the state’s population, according to the Indiana State Department of Health.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, just 9.3 million people in the United States received their first shot out of about 26.7 million doses distributed as of Wednesday morning.

Health officials say those numbers may be low due to a lag in reporting.

The number of red counties continues to grow on Indiana’s COVID-19 map. The Indiana State Department of Health releases a color-coded map on a weekly basis, placing counties in four categories for spread. Only 19 counties are listed at the orange level status. The rest of the state has reached the red status level, with more than 200 or more weekly cases per 100,000 residents or a 15 percent or greater 7-day all tests positivity rate. Last week’s map had 27 counties in the orange category. 

Lawrence County is one county listed at the red status level, with 537 weekly cases per 100,000 residents, and has a 16.55 7-day all tests positivity rate as of Wednesday.

Experts say as much as 85 percent of the population may need to be vaccinated to vanquish COVID-19 or roughly 5.72 million people in Indiana.

According to health officials, 40,281 people have received their second dose and are considered fully vaccinated against COVID-19, or less than 1 percent of Hoosiers.

Hoosiers age 70 and older can now begin scheduling appointments to receive the COVID-19 vaccine.

Appointments can be scheduled by visiting https://ourshot.in.gov. Those needing assistance with registration can call 211 or one of Indiana’s Area Agencies on Aging. A caregiver or loved one also may make an appointment on behalf of an eligible senior.

During a press briefing Wednesday, state health officials urged Hoosiers to be patient as they await their turn to receive the vaccine.

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