County officials provide weekly COVID-19 update

Putnam County officials announced Friday that there have been 3,116 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the county since March. Putnam County is currently at a 8.1 percent positivity rate.

For a further breakdown of case, visit www.coronavirus.in.gov.

The positive case number also may include positive cases at the state correctional facility located in Putnam County. To learn more, visit https://www.in.gov/idoc/3780.htm.

Putnam County Hospital has opened a vaccine clinic at the Putnam County Fairgrounds. This week they were able to vaccinate close to 400 individuals. Vaccines are by appointment only. Call 211 or go to www.ourshot.in.gov to schedule your appointment.

The Putnam County Health Department continues to offer a COVID-19 Vaccination Clinic at their offices. Anyone who received their first dose at PCHD, should return to the same location for their second dose.

Putnam County Hospital continues to offer curbside COVID testing. To schedule your appointment, go to https://scheduling.coronavirus.in.gov If the website is showing that there are no open appointments for the day, call the COVID curbside phone number. Testing hours are Tuesday-Friday 10:00am-6:00pm and Saturday 9 a.m.-2 p.m. If you have any further questions or if the online scheduling is showing full, call (765) 301-7019. Putnam County Hospital asks that patients arrive no earlier than five minutes before their scheduled test to help with the flow of traffic. When a patient arrives they will follow the COVID-19 testing signs. These signs will direct them to the proper testing area.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has issued an Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) allowing shipments of COVID-19 vaccine to be sent to Indiana and other states.

Who is eligible to receive vaccine?

If you answer yes to any of these questions, you are eligible to receive the COVID-19 vaccine:

* Are you age 65 or older?

* Do you work or volunteer in healthcare and have (physical or close) contact or face to face interactions with patients? Examples include:

-Inpatient, outpatient, provider office setting, nursing homes, residential care facilities, assisted living facilities, in-home services

-This includes all clinical and non-clinical positions: clinicians, dietary, environmental services, administrators who have direct contact with patients, clergy who see patients in the healthcare setting, non-clinicians who assist in procedures, transportation staff, etc.

-This also includes local health department staff who interact with patients at test sites, health clinics or provide direct patient care

• Do you have exposure to COVID-19 infectious material? (Examples include cleaning of rooms or material from COVID-19 patients, performing COVID-19 testing, other exposure to infected tissue, performing autopsies or other post-mortem examinations of COVID-19 patients)

• Are you a first responder (fire, law enforcement, emergency medical services, reservists and volunteers) who has contact with the public and could be called to the scene of an emergency?

The timeline for additional phases of vaccine administration is yet to be determined. Check back here frequently for updates.

Be patient, as vaccine supply is limited. If you are a licensed healthcare provider, make sure your email is updated with the Indiana Professional Licensing Agency and continue to check your email and SPAM. If you are eligible and haven’t received an invitation, ask your employer.

To learn more about the vaccine, visit https://youtu.be/veN1s1q3CBo

To learn more about Putnam County’s coordinated response to COVID-19 visit the Putnam County Hospital at www.pchosp.org/covid-19-updates or the Putnam County Health Department at www.putnamhealthindiana.org.