WFHB Bloomington Community Radio
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This is the WFHB Local News for Monday, February 8th, 2021.
Later in the program, we have the latest edition of A Few Minutes with the Mayor – a weekly segment where we ask Bloomington Mayor John Hamilton listener-posed questions on community issues.
Also coming up in the next half hour, Covid-19 cases are trending downward across the state and in Monroe County. However, health experts are warning the positive trend may be short-lived. More in today’s headlines.
But first, we turn to WFHB Correspondent Aaron Comforty for today’s local news brief:
COVID-19 Press Conference
Monroe County Health Administrator Penny Caudill stated COVID-19 cases were declining during the February 5th COVID-19 press conference. She spoke of Monroe County cases per 100,000 people.
Caudill mentioned gathering size limits were moved to a maximum of 50 people due to change in health order regulations. However, Bloomington Mayor John Hamilton reminded community members, the gathering size limit remains at 15 inside city limits. Caudill mentioned demand for the COVID-19 vaccine was not as high in surrounding counties.
IU Health South Central Region Program Director for Community Relations and Outreach Shana Gergis reported, as of February fourth, Bloomington had used approximately 18 thousand 8 hundred vaccines. Caudill mentioned rapid result COVID-19 tests are available at the South Morton Street location for any persons.
Covid-19 Update: Positivity Rate on the Decline
Cases of Covid-19 are trending downward nationally, statewide and locally. However, health experts say it’s too early for the vaccine to have any substantial effect on the decline of new coronavirus cases.
During Governor Holcomb’s Covid-19 update last week, State Health Commissioner Dr. Kristina Box acknowledged the state’s declining positivity rate.
“We continue to see improvement in our positivity rate,” said Dr. Box. “We have also seen a decline in the number of Hoosiers hospitalized with Covid symptoms.”
Although the latest numbers may look promising, the downward trend is not assured to continue. Rochelle Walensky, Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, warns of several new variants starting to spread in the U.S.
“The continued proliferation of variants – variants that likely have increased transmissibility, that spread more easily, threatens to reverse these recent trends,” said the new CDC director.
Another possible reason for the decline has to do with record-high cases last month as a result of increased indoor gatherings over the holiday season.
Dr. Todd Ellerin, infectious disease expert at South Shore Health in Massachusetts, warned that the declining positivity rate might be deceiving.
“It’s still winter. The virus loves to spread indoors,” said Dr. Ellerin. “I’m afraid the darkest days are not over yet.”
Dr. Kristina Box said regular Covid-19 safety precautions are still necessary in limiting the spread of the virus, as the state has a limited supply of vaccines to distribute.
“As I’ve cautioned before, these changes do not mean we are out of the woods,” said Dr. Box.
As of Monday, nearly 700,000 people received their first dose of the Covid-19 vaccine in Indiana. About 232,000 Indiana residents are fully vaccinated.
However, according to the CDC, not even one-tenth of the U.S. population has been vaccinated. That means we won’t see the true effectiveness of the Covid-19 vaccine until at least the summer or even as late as fall 2021.
Monroe County Board Zoning Appeals
County Planner Tammy Behrman presented three variances for a storage structure in Bean Blossom Township to the Monroe County Board of Zoning Appeals. She spoke about the structure being built on a sinkhole conservancy area during their February third meeting.
Behrman stated the building was built in April of 2020. She mentioned Patriot Engineering Environmental firm performed a karst analysis of the area. She spoke of four conditions based off of the engineering firm and county MS4 Coordinator reports.
Behrman stated the fourth condition was for petitioners to submit a residential driveway permit application. Attorney Michael Carmin stated an additional condition could redirect any drainage from the shed to the drainage easement area. Board members approved the variance with five conditions.
Overdose Lifeline Set To Install Overdose Antidote Kits in Every Indiana County
A collaboration between the state of Indiana and the non-profit, Overdose Lifeline, led to a project which will distribute kits containing Naloxone, or Narcan, in every county across the state.
Narcan is a medication that reverses overdoses by opioids – it essentially acts as an “overdose antidote.”
Overdose Lifeline will place 215 outdoor dispensers containing the overdose antidotes across the state. The non-profit helps individuals, families and communities impacted by the disease of addiction and substance abuse disorder through advocacy, education and support.
Brandon George, executive director of the Indiana Addiction Coalition, said addiction should be treated as a chronic condition.
“We all know that substance use disorder is a chronic condition,” said George. “But with substance use disorder, our treatment models are not reflective of this.”
Douglas Huntsinger, chairman of the Indiana Commission to Combat Drug Abuse, said the coronavirus pandemic has led to an increase in overdoses as a result of opioids.
“Our preliminary data shows we’ve already seen a nearly 50 percent increase in overdoses in our emergency departments in 2020, compared to 2019,” said Huntsinger.
Governor Eric Holcomb announced the project to implement NaloxBox units in every county on Friday. The estimated $58,000 cost of the project will be paid for through a federal grant to the state, according to the Associated Press.
Any business or community organization can request to install the anti-overdose kits in a highly visible area at overdoselifeline.org/2020-indiana-naloxone-request.
Ellettsville Plan Commission
Ellettsville Plan Commission approved final plat approval for the Burns Subdivision. Planning Director Kevin Tolloty spoke of the request during their February 4th meeting.
Petitioner Rusty Burns stated they may build a smaller home on the lot with the shed and sell the larger home on the neighboring lot. Commissioners unanimously approved the final plat.
Now it’s time for your feature reports. Up first, we have the latest edition of a Few Minutes with the Mayor – a weekly segment where Assistant News Director Sydney Foreman talks to Bloomington Mayor John Hamilton on community issues. We turn to Sydney Foreman for more.
Credits:
You’ve been listening to the WFHB Local News
Today’s headlines were written by Aaron Comforty, Kade Young and Sydney Foreman in partnership with Cats – Community Access Television Services.
Our feature was produced by Sydney Foreman.
Our theme music is provided by Mark Bingham and the Social Climbers.
Engineer and Executive producer is Kade Young.
