Corrected: Area counties improve from severe spread of disease

Correction: A previous version of this story was incorrect in saying that the advisory level also fell along with the current numbers.

According to COVID-19 statistics from the Indiana State Department of Health, several area counties that are in the severe spread category, are showing improvement but are not out of the red yet.

Based on their current numbers, Johnson, Shelby and Jackson counties would be orange, or in the serious spread advisory level on the state’s color-coded map. However, they will continue at the red advisory level, until they have shown lower numbers for two consecutive weeks.

Brown, Johnson, Shelby and Jackson counties have all been ranked as red, showing severe spread of the disease. Bartholomew, Decatur and Jennings counties have remained in the orange during the recent spike in cases.

The only surrounding county still showing red in the daily numbers, is Brown County with a 7-day positivity rate of 15.69 percent.

As of numbers released yesterday by the state health department, Bartholomew County saw 85 new cases of COVID-19, Decatur 23, Jennings 35, Jackson 48, Brown 10, Johnson 212 and Shelby 45. Decatur County reported 3 new deaths from the disease yesterday and Bartholomew and Johnson Counties both had two deaths.

Statewide, the health department announced 6 thousand 458 new COVID-19 cases yesterday, 79 more deaths and a 7-day positivity rate for all tests at 12.4 percent.