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Monroe County health department: wastewater virus levels high; free combo COVID/flu tests available
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Summary
Health department staff told commissioners that wastewater monitoring shows elevated COVID-19, flu, RSV and norovirus levels, that emergency visits and hospital admissions have not increased, and that free combo COVID/flu tests are available weekdays at the county health department; vaccine services are transitioning to county provision in mid-March.
Miss Kelly of the Monroe County Health Department briefed the Board of Commissioners on Feb. 12 about recent surveillance and testing updates. She said wastewater surveillance for Monroe County shows increased concentrations of SARS-CoV-2, influenza, RSV and norovirus even though emergency-department visits and hospital admissions for COVID-like illness have not risen.
"According to the Indiana Department of Health, we have not seen changes in the number of emergency department visits for COVID-like illness or hospital admissions, but wastewater concentrations have increased," Miss Kelly said. The health department is making combo COVID/flu tests available for free; residents can walk in Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. to receive a free test at the county health department at 119 West 7th Street (corner of 7th and College). Miss Kelly also said the department is transitioning vaccination services from IU Health Community Health and aims to begin providing vaccines in mid-March.
The briefing included operational details for residents: Miss Kelly said that, for vaccine appointments before the county begins its own clinics, Morgan County has vaccine availability and provided a phone number for appointments (765-342-6621). Commissioners did not ask for additional action beyond the announcement and thanked health staff for the update.
What to watch Residents seeking testing or vaccines were advised to use the county health department walk-in testing hours or call listed county and neighboring-county contacts for vaccine appointments. The health department and county will continue to monitor wastewater and clinical indicators and will update the public as needed.
