As schools consider whether to stay open, cancel sporting events, or move classes online, state health officials are offering some guidance with a new color-coded map.
State Health Commissioner Dr. Kris Box announced Wednesday that the state will be launching a map that scores counties based on the number of new COVID-19 cases per capita in a given week, the positivity rate, and the change in positivity rate from the prior week.
“The goal is to provide an easy-to-understand system that local and school officials can use to inform their decisions,” Box explained. “I want to emphasize that this score does not trigger a requirement of action, but it provides information and recommendations.”
Counties with minimal community spread, colored blue on the map, are recommended to have schools operate in-person. But in counties with moderate-to-high community spread, given an orange color code, schools may choose to offer hybrid learning for middle and high school students. Schools in areas with the highest community spread, which appear red on the map, are recommended to switch to virtual learning at the middle and high school levels and maybe hybrid learning at elementary schools, with extracurricular activities canceled.
Currently, Starke and Pulaski counties fall into the yellow category, while Marshall County is blue. Box said the map will officially be added to the state’s COVID-19 dashboard next Wednesday and will be updated every week. “A county that is in blue today can easily change colors if people ignore social distancing, refuse to wear their masks, and continue to go to work or school if they’re symptomatic or close contacts,” Box added. “The best way to get counties into blue and to keep them there is for every Hoosier to make the choice to protect others.”
Governor Eric Holcomb has extended Indiana’s public health disaster emergency declaration until October 2.
