Jefferson County Moves To Red Advisory At Noon Today

RED advisory indicates we are experiencing high community spread. There are no group setting outbreaks in our county at this time.

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[Madison, IN] Jefferson County is continuing to experience an increase in our positivity rate. As a result of this, we will be moving from an ORANGE advisory to a RED advisory level on the Indiana Department of Health County metrics map when the state map updates at noon today. RED advisory indicates we are experiencing high community spread. There are no group setting outbreaks in our county at this time. If you are sick, please seek testing right away and stay away from others until you know your results. You can receive free testing at the Jefferson County Community Testing Site located at King’s Daughters’ Hospital Convenient Care, 445 Clifty Drive, Madison, IN 47250 812 273- 5372, or you can schedule your COVID test by visiting www.coronavirus.in.gov Jefferson County has had reported Delta cases. The Delta variant is now accounting for 87.2% of Indiana samples being tested for variants. People infected with the Delta variant carry up to 1,000 times more virus in their nasal passages than other strains, resulting in higher transmissibility, even among the vaccinated. Jefferson County has had 44 breakthrough cases reported, that is approximately 0.3% of vaccinated individuals experiencing breakthrough cases, which is slightly above the state percentage of 0.2%. Breakthrough cases are experiencing less severe illness than those unvaccinated. Vaccinations prevent severe illness and hospitalizations. The Jefferson County Health Department urges all Jefferson County residents and visitors to get vaccinated against COVID-19. You can schedule your COVID vaccine by visiting www.ourshot.in.gov We are also accepting walk-ins in our office located at 715 Green Road, Madison, IN 47250 Monday thru Friday 9am-3pm. We have all three vaccines available, Pfizer, Moderna, and Johnson and Johnson. Individual’s age 12 – 17 years of age must receive Pfizer vaccine and have an adult present. RECOMMENDATIONS FROM THE JEFFERSON COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT: Universal masking for all individuals in indoor public settings regardless of vaccination status. Universal indoor masking for all teachers, staff, students, and visitors to K-12 schools, regardless of vaccination status. Guidelines for positive cases: Individuals that test positive for COVID must isolate 10 days from onset of symptoms or positive test date, whichever came first. Isolation can end on day 11 if the following criteria is met: • Fever free without fever reducing medication for 24 hours • Other symptoms improving People who are in isolation should stay home until it’s safe for them to be around others. At home, anyone sick or infected should separate from others, stay in a specific “sick room” or area, and use a separate bathroom (if available). What to do • Monitor your symptoms. If you have an emergency warning sign (including trouble breathing), seek emergency medical care immediately. • Stay in a separate room from other household members, if possible. • Use a separate bathroom, if possible. • Avoid contact with other members of the household and pets. • Don’t share personal household items, like cups, towels, and utensils. • Wear a mask when around other people if able. Guidelines for close contacts(within 6 feet of someone for a cumulative total of 15 minutes or more over a 24-hour period): Vaccinated individuals: • No need to quarantine; but must wear a mask while indoor public places • Seek COVID testing 5 days after exposure to positive case o Negative test on day 5: resume normal daily activities o Positive test on day 5: start 10 day isolation period • Seek testing immediately if you develop symptoms Unvaccinated individuals: 3 options • Quarantine 14 days from last contact with positive case (lowest risk of spread) • 10-day quarantine: o If you are unable to quarantine the full 14 days, you may end quarantine after 10 days if you have remained symptom free for the full 10 days, must wear mask while in public places for an additional 4 days • 7-day quarantine: o If you receive a negative PCR test (not a rapid test) performed on day 5, 6, OR 7, quarantine must not end before a full 7 days and you must receive your negative test result before ending quarantine. Must wear mask while in public places for an additional 7 days. Regardless of which option you choose, the following criteria must also be met: • You do not have any symptoms of COVID-19; and • You continue to complete the daily monitoring surveys through day 14; and • You adhere strictly through 11:59 PM on day 14 to all other mitigation strategies: correct and consistent mask use, social distancing, hand and cough hygiene, environmental cleaning and disinfection, avoiding crowds, ensuring adequate indoor ventilation, and self-monitoring for symptoms of COVID-19. Masks are required, so if participation in an activity makes masking difficult (i.e. sports, extracurriculars), then you would not be able to participate in that activity until after 11:59 PM on day 14.