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NEW: Elkhart, LaGrange & Pulaski Counties In "Red" On New ISDH COVID-19 Map

ISDH

The Indiana State Dept. of Health has updated its county-by-county COVID-19 map and it shows that Elkhart, LaGrange and Pulaski counties are in red. The red designation is the most serious on the map. A total of two dozen Hoosier counties are in the red as of now. 

For a third straight week, more than a quarter of Indiana counties are rated with the highest risk level of coronavirus spread in Wednesday’s state update that continued to show no area in the low or moderate community spread zones. The Indiana State Health Department tracking map labels 24 of the state’s 92 counties the most dangerous red category, down two from a week ago. All other counties are in the next-riskiest orange rating of the four-level system. The new county ratings come a day after state officials announced a flaw in Indiana’s COVID-19 reporting that is expected to change the state’s overall positivity rate and the metrics for individual counties once corrected.

Meantime today Indiana Gov. Holcomb signed new Executive Orders that he announced at his weekly COVID-19 briefing Tuesday.

(You can read a release from the Governor's office below.)

 

Governor Eric J. Holcomb has signed Executive Order 20-51 to renew certain directives issued in response to the COVID-19 outbreak.

EO 20-51 extends temporary licensing of healthcare workers for 90 days, allowing individuals who are not currently licensed to practice in Indiana to have a temporary license. This order applies to retired healthcare professionals, certain healthcare students and out-of-state healthcare professionals.

Professionals who are granted a temporary license to provide healthcare services in the state in response to this public health emergency must register with the Professional Licensing Agency via their website at www.in.gov/pla

The order also allows properly trained individuals, such as certain paramedics and EMTs and members of the National Guard, to administer the COVID-19 vaccine. Medical assistants can also administer the vaccine under the supervision of a physician, physician assistant, advanced practice registered nurse or registered nurse.

In response to the high volume of unemployment claims, the order continues the suspension of certain requirements to expedite the hiring and training of temporary workers to more quickly resolve unemployment issues.

Click here to see the executive order: https://www.in.gov/gov/2384.htm

Separate from the executive order, the Governor also announced that he will be extending the mission of the Indiana National Guard at long-term care facilities through the end of February. In November, the Governor deployed 1,350 Guardsmen to help in the state’s 534 long-term care facilities. 

Gemma DiCarlo came to Indiana by way of Athens, Georgia. She graduated from the University of Georgia in 2020 with a degree in Journalism and certificates in New Media and Sustainability. She has radio experience from her time as associate producer of Athens News Matters, the flagship public affairs program at WUGA-FM.
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