This is the WFHB Local News for Monday, October 5th, 2020.

Later in the program, Dave Seastrom of the Brown County Hour presents an essay titled a “A Year of Covid.” That’s coming up in today’s feature reports.

Also coming up in the next half hour, A Few Minutes with the Mayor - where Bloomington Mayor John Hamilton answers questions about local issues.

Local News Brief:

835 new cases of COVID-19 were reported in Indiana on Sunday, according to the Indiana State Department of Health. That’s about 250 fewer cases than the state’s moving average.

7 new Covid-related deaths were added to the state’s tally as well. With more than a thousand hospitalizations, right now, there are more Hoosiers hospitalized because of Covid-19, than at any other time since May.

Locally, Monroe County saw 24 newly confirmed cases yesterday, slightly above the county’s moving average.

Still, the county’s numbers represent a significant drop in new cases since the middle of last month. Surrounding counties saw between zero and 13 new cases.

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Monroe County’s statistics do not appear to incorporate the vast majority, if any, of Indiana University’s Covid-19 testing results, although county health officials say that they are in touch with the state health department and are trying to fix the reporting issue.

Indiana University has reported about 2,800 positive Covid-19 test results since mid-August. The university’s website does not state how many of those positive tests belonged to unique individuals.

For the past three weeks, however, positivity has been trending downward across all testing categories at Indiana University–Bloomington.

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11:59 pm tonight is the deadline to register to vote in Indiana. Voters can register or check their registration status by visiting indianavoters.in.gov.

Thus far, around 12,000 Monroe County residents have requested to vote absentee by mail in this election.

COVID-19 Joint Press Conference

Local COVID-19 infection rates have improved, according to Monroe County Health Administrator Penny Caudill. She discussed the county’s case numbers in an October 2nd COVID-19 press conference, reminding the public that social gatherings fuel transmissions.

With Halloween around the corner, Caudill also referred the public to a list of safe Halloween guidelines released by the Centers for Disease Control.

In the same press conference, Indiana University Assistant Vice President of Strategic Partnerships Kirk White reported a decrease in COVID-19 on campus.

White said an IU COVID-19 laboratory and processing operation could open next month.

In other news, Monroe County Emergency Management Director Allison Moore says an upcoming Blood Drive could help save 828 lives.

According to Moore, the Red Cross has already collected 276 units of blood since COVID-19 began. You can register for the blood drive at redcross.org.

City of Bloomington Utilities Service Board 

Assistant Director of Environmental Programs James Hall proposed a language change to the Bloomington Municipal code. He spoke during the September 28th Utilities Service Board.

Hall said the language would regulate hauler procedures when cleaning food service grease interceptor. City Attorney Chris Wheeler mentioned grease haulers would have to take a class.

Hall said training would be biennial for thirty to sixty minutes. Board member Julie Thomas questioned WHO would receive training from each company. Pretreatment Coordinator Jason Wenning said all drivers will receive training.

Wheeler said various grease receptors acceptable to the city would be more affordable to the food industry. Board members unanimously approved the request.