UPDATE: Putnam remains in red as Covid metrics fall

NOTE: Due to default setting of the ISDH dashboard, a previous version of this story incorrectly stated that Putnam had dropped into the orange advisory.

As COVID-19 cases around the state fall precipitously, Putnam County appears on the threshold of dropping out of the state’s highest level of COVID-19 advisory.

After a month of both metrics being well beyond the minimum “red” thresholds of 200 cases per 100,000 residents and 15 percent positivity on all tests, Putnam is now solidly below both thresholds.

For the week ending Monday, Feb. 21, Putnam County reported a total 44 new cases, good for a rate of 149 per 100,000 residents. Meanwhile, the positivity rate fell to 10.94 percent.

However, the ISDH COVID-19 dashboard clearly states: “A county must remain at a lower Weekly Two-Metric Score for two consecutive weeks to move down to a lower advisory level.”

As such, the advisory level remains at a red, though another week with one or both metrics below the threshold will mean Putnam moving into orange.

Meanwhile there were four reported deaths of Putnam County residents from COVID-19 during the week, the same number as the week prior.