This is the WFHB Local News for Monday, August 31st, 2020.

Later in the program, WFHB Correspondent Aaron Comforty speaks with Bradi Heaberlin, author of an opinion piece in the Indiana Daily Student titled “Reopening IU Puts Everyone in Harm’s Way.” The opinion piece said, “students’ presence in Bloomington will put more vulnerable people at risk.”

Also coming up on today’s ‘A Few Minutes with the Mayor,’ Mayor John Hamilton answers questions about recent criticism of the Bloomington Police Department and 11 Greek organizations forced to quarantine after a spike in Covid-19 cases.

But first, today’s local news brief:

For the second day in a row, Monroe County has broken its own record for newly diagnosed cases of COVID-19.

On Sunday, the county reported 56 new cases, and on Saturday, it reported 38. The Indiana state Department of Health reported the state’s second highest weekend tally with 897 new cases on Sunday and another 866 on Saturday. 6 new deaths were also reported over the weekend.

Nearby, Green County saw 5 new cases, while Lawrence County saw three.

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Indiana University published its Covid-19 dashboard on Friday evening, shortly after it announced that three more Greek houses were being forced to quarantine.

The data reflects Indiana University’s testing results as of last week. Of the almost 34,000 test results, 344 tests were positive. That’s about a one percent positivity rate.

The university announced that it would update its dashboard today, but it has not yet done so.

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There is a summer send-off concert in the Performing Arts Series at the new Switchyard Park. The show will feature back-to-back concerts with Matixando & Kid Kazooey and The BallRoom Roustabouts.

The send off will be on Friday, September 4th from 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Tickets are free, but are required for admission. To register to attend the event, check out the Bloomington parks website. There are a limited number of spaces available to accommodate physical distancing, and concert goers must wear masks.

 

Covid-19 Press Conference

Indiana University Professor of Pediatrics Aaron Carroll said approximately 1 percent of IU students tested positive for COVID-19 upon arrival to campus. During the August 28th COVID-19 Press Conference Carroll said any infected student had to isolate.

Carroll said a higher prevalence rate was found after retesting all on campus students. He said IU and Monroe County are working to increase isolation for campus living areas with an increased spread. Monroe County School Corporation Superintendent Judith DeMuth said MCCSC approved a comprehensive plan to begin in person classes.

DeMuth said 10 percent of Indiana school corporations are still virtual. She said a red, yellow, green, method would determine the teaching method.

DeMuth said students are not required to attend classes in person. County Health Administrator Penny Caudill said as of August 28th Monroe County saw 1,030 positive COVID-19 tests. She said the 7-day positivity rate was 2.3 percent. Caudill said local sport events must follow the county gathering size limit.

Caudill said the county is working on future plans for COVID-19 vaccination clinics. President of IU Health South Central Region Brian Shockney said within two months, behavioral health service needs increased by 22 percent.

Shockney encouraged everyone to get a flu vaccination.

Indiana’s First Overdose Boxes Installed in Hamilton County

Today marks Overdose Awareness Day in the United States. In response, Hamilton County, Indiana becomes the first county in the state to install overdose boxes.

According to Indiana University, every two and a half hours, someone in Indiana is sent to the hospital for an opioid overdose.