City of Bloomington, Indiana COVID-19, 13 Aug 2021

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From YouTube: COVID-19 Press Conference LIVE: August 13, 2021

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COVID-19 Press Conference LIVE: August 13, 2021

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Mayor's here I see 115 so we'll go ahead and get started. uh Welcome everybody to our now bi-weekly.

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uh Information session on everything involving the covet 19 pandemic and in the city of bloomington.

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Monroe county indiana university and iu health, I'm chuck carney director of media relations for.

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Indiana university: we will begin as always with opening statements. First, let's go to.

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Bloomington mayor john hamilton, thanks very much chuck uh good to be with you all our first.

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Meeting in august, I believe I'll give the quick uh data updates. We did have one new employee, positive.

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Test this week, that brings to 9-0 our total number of employees in the last year and a half. We also.

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Are up to 570 employees who have demonstrated their vaccinations with the 100 wellness program?.

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That we have uh for one bright spot. We, we grew by about five percent over the previous.

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Month period of ending two weeks ago, there was about a five percent increase in vaccinations.

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Submissions um over the last two weeks we had about a four percent growth. So that's a quicker.

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Pace and I'll take that and encouraging all of our employees to get vaccinated as much as possible.

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Also just quick report on the utility program: I've mentioned a few times. We continue the virus.

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Detection monitoring in the wastewater system we had, as I mentioned two weeks ago today, we had six.

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Weeks in a row of no detection of the gene copies, which meant there were fewer than 10 gene, copies.

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Per 100 milliliters last time, two weeks ago I mentioned we had a one hit in the dillman.

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Wastewater plant at a level of 12, so just barely detectable this week we did detect a level of 21.

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Gene copies at blucher pool that's the northern edge and actually up to 460 copies at dillman.

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Now that's significantly up, but still way below the highest levels in the winter, but and and I'll.

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Caution these are, these are somewhat experimental efforts, but I do want to share that just to note.

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That in this past week we did see a significant rise in the in the gene copies measured in the.

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Wastewater stream we're going to continue to watch that closely and are trying to see if we.

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Can increase the frequency to continue to monitor? So we know a third surge is happening. We've.

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We've made that clear and the data makes it clear. That's true in cases it's true in positivity rates.

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It's true in hospitalizations, I know we'll get more data on all that. It's even true.

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Now, in deaths at the state level that we're seeing a significant rise in the average death uh to.

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Covet as a third surge, it is a very frustrating. It's very alarming. We all know that masks and.

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Vaccinations are what we need right now. Please do your part thanks. All of you who have maybe I.

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Would just emphasize remember the school kids most of whom many of whom cannot get vaccinated.

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Under current protocols, but we need them in school, they need to be in school to learn.

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And and keep their lives moving forward and the best thing all the rest of us can do to keep them.

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Safe those who cannot get vaccinated, the best thing we can do is get vaccinated and mask up so.

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I will again express my appreciation for this group gathered remotely on this zoom call.

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Representing the various entities, in particular those um like iu and iu health and the school.

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Corporations that are not on this call, but who have who have committed to get their.

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Communities, uh employees, staff, customers, etc, uh vaccinated in in great degree. That is a huge.

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Benefit to our community- and I thank you for that and all the work of the health department.

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I'll hand it back to you chuck and happy to take questions. Okay, let's next check in with the health.

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Department and penny caught good afternoon- and I guess I would say, um happy lucky friday, the 13th.

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Right, it is friday, the 13th, so I will start today with the health regulation, since that remains.

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Of interest to people, the current regulation to wear masks in indoor public places does com cover.

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Communities throughout monroe county uh if the current order is set to expire on 9.

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30 or if we see significant, specific metrics in an improvement or if the board of health.

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And the commissioners were to make changes to it, public businesses and that their employees.

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And patrons are to wear masks unless they meet one of the exemptions that are in that order.

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This regulation did go through the legal processes as required, and schools are to follow cdc.

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And indiana department of health guidance, which is at this time, includes wearing of masks.

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This measure was taken to increase precautions during the substantial spread of covid19.

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And the delta variant being predominant, the predominant strain in indiana in order to.

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Slow the spread and to protect those who cannot be vaccinated, for instance, those who are under.

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12. remember that we still have less than 60 of our eligible population fully vaccinated.

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Once we are through this surge, the hope and the expectations are that the regulations will not be.

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Needed and that vaccination rates will continue to climb. That, however, does require cooperation.

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From everyone, regardless of opinions, monroe county's cases per 100 000 rose to 109 this week.

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We had dropped to 27 per 100 000 back in early june, and in april we were.

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We had a point where we were at 105.. We are going backward not forward where we need to go.

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In terms of indiana, average cases have increased nine fold since july. Hospitalizations are the.

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Highest since february, child and teen cases have jumped 84 from july 22nd through the 29th.

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And five times what was reported since the end of june, and that is for children. Children now account.

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For 20 of the cases nationwide, the delta variant is responsible for 93 percent of the us cases and.

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Most people live in a substantial or high covid transmission area, that is the majority of counties.

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In indiana, you can be part of the solution to this be kind to others. Even when you disagree.

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Be kind to the workers doing their jobs, wear your mask as required and, if requested stay at.

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Home if you're sick, get tested as appropriate, follow guidance for isolation and quarantine.

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Based on your vaccination status, continue good hand, hygiene and vaccinate if you're eligible.

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If you have questions or concerns, please talk to a reputable resource. Your private provider.

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There's lots of good research um from reputable places online. Now we have had some reports of from.

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Individuals uh that we've been talking to about their vaccination and why it took them a while to.

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Kind of come in and get that vaccine and, while fear may have been what they said.

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It was not fear of the vaccine, but rather fear from repercussions and.

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From family and friends, and what they might have to deal with, if they shared that information with.

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Individuals, so please be kind um and we want people to get vaccinated. We.

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Know that it is safe, the data is there. This is a these are safe and effective vaccines.

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We are getting complaints, they are coming through on places regarding failures, to comply with the.

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Regulations complaints may be submitted through our website as they were before. That is the most.

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Efficient way for us to process them, we start as always with seeking voluntary compliance until.

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We have no other option for resolution. While there are some who are opposed to the current mass order.

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Many are in favor of it, and I want you to think for a moment about the.

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People, for instance, in our office or other offices who may be taking complaints all day.

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And how difficult and challenging that job can be one of our staff reported and wanted to share.

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This information from someone who had submitted a complaint while wearing a mask is uncomfortable. I.

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Think that doing what we can do to support those giving up their lives in medical care.

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Settings is a small price to pay to get through this with minimal loss of life and livelihood.

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Thank you to our public health workers for doing what you can to keep our county safe. So.

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On to testing, we are monitoring the increased demand and need for testing during this surge.

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Going to coronavirus.in.gov for the map of testing site options is still your best starting place.

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For where to go to get testing vaccine is still available, ourshot.in.us is still the best location.

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To find those options for public clinics for you, we do continue to schedule outreach clinics.

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In fact, if you have not been vaccinated yet- and you want to get one today- food truck friday from.

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5 to 8 pm you can get johnson and johnson vaccine. We continue to do modern mondays on miller drive.

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We appreciate you making an appointment there uh prior to that, but they will do their best if you.

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Walk in preparing for schools, we have many school clinics scheduled to start in september, and those.

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Clinics will have both influenza vaccine as well as covid vaccine for those who are eligible rides.

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Are also still available, kroger has joined with lyft for discounted rides to and from vaccination.

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Appointments, you can visit kroger.com, backslash covid vaccine to schedule that appointment and a.

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Ride iu health still offers rides to um sites, and you can call 1888 iu health um and choose option.

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Nine brian, I hope that I got that all right if you need help with a ride and uber is another option.

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If you need assistance with transportation to a state site, and you can schedule that through 2-1-1.

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You can be a part of the solution. We have the tools to overcome this. The tools include.

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Prevention measures, including mat, masks and vaccine. We must use them, however, in order for them.

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To work back to you, chuck, okay, let's next check in with monroe county commissioners and julie, thomas.

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Hi chuck hello, everyone and thank you all for being here, as always,.

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I appreciate this collaborative uh community. That's developed around this very serious issue.

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First, to thank you from the board of commissioners to everyone who has been vaccinated and to those.

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Who continue to serve us as our essential workers and our health care workers and our community.

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In these uncertain times, uh we just want to make a quick note uh for residents who are dealing.

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Still with issues related to rent utility payments and basic necessities of life, the monroe county.

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Commissioners worked with the county council to provide uh township assistance fund, a township.

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Assistance fund we funded already 125 000 uh will be is administered through our township trustees.

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Every county resident lives in a township whether you live in a city, a town or neither uh just so.

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Please contact your township trustee. If you need assistance, the funding is available to help you.

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uh So with that, thank you again to everyone in our community for all you're doing to keep us.

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Safe and please get vaccinated thanks. Okay, let's next check in with iu health and brian shockney,.

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Good afternoon, everyone and thank you to all being on this call now every other week.

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And also to those who are serving in capacity to support our team, as well as our community.

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Our numbers of cover 19 inpatients across iul, south central region during the past.

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Week continue to rise to volumes we've not experienced in over six months. The numbers of.

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Monroe county between iu health, bloomington and monroe hospital show the same concerning trends.

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New covered 19 cases in indiana have tripled to their highest level since february, where.

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Hospitalizations have doubled since that same time, and this trend is evident across the iu.

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Health system, where all of our iu health hospitals in the state, our coven 19 census,.

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Has increased from an average of 60 patients per day in early july to almost 130 patients.

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Per day this last week, fully vaccinated persons continue to account for a very small percentage of.

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Covet hospitalizations, which is important because it shows that fully vaccinated individuals are.

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More protected against the harsher aspects of the virus in comparison to those who are unvaccinated.

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To date, since march of 2020 iu health, south central region, hospitals, have admitted over.

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1800 individuals with a primary diagnosis- that's not secondary, but a primary diagnosis of covid19.

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That is over eight percent of all our admissions to our hospitals.

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These are individuals that could not maintain their oxygen levels nor be cared for.

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Without highly involved medical care, over 95 percent of those patients have been unvaccinated.

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The numbers are important: they are important so that we can respond and ensure that we.

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Have the resources necessary to care for those who are very sick with this virus.

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However, I want to take a minute and ask you to reflect after 18 months of this pandemic,.

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Coven 19 is deeply and profoundly impacted each and every one of us in some way and we're all.

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Tired of spending time, apart from those that we care about and able to connect with each.

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Other through smiles and tears and seeing each other's faces due to wearing these dreaded masks.

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And having to work the structure of our lives and world around covet, 19.

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So I ask you to reflect on the last 18 months: have you or a loved one being diagnosed with covet 19.

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Have you, unfortunately lost a loved one or someone? You know with copen19.

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Have you or a loved one face financial impact or job change because of coven 19.

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Have you lost out on time with loved ones, travel plans, big celebrations because of copenhagen.

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I know firsthand the leaders here on the screen today have been deeply impacted over the last.

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18 months, they've continued to make sacrifices each week week in and week out, spent countless.

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Hours, including nights, weekends and holidays away from their families, they've grieved the individual.

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Losses of community members and loved ones they put their time, talent and resources and energy.

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Into covet, 19 and they've done it to help, protect and support this community that we so dearly love.

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This pandemic in august of 2021 is not like february 2020 and even december of 2020.

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We have the answers. We have the supplies necessary to provide patient care.

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We have the treatments that can help heal patients. We have the vaccine that will end this pandemic. We.

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Also have more people dying, so I ask you: how do you want to treat the pandemic of august 2021? How.

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Do you want our community, our state and our county, to be reflected when we look back at this period.

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Of time in history, I can tell you that my hope and my passion is to be remembered as the generation.

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That did the right thing when we were called upon to make a difference in the lives of others.

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We at iu health want to focus on what matters most to our community related to the new hospital.

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The state-of-the-art technology, the improved service and delivery of care, we're aiming for.

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That date, coming here in december of 2021., we want to be able to utilize those resources currently.

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Being demanded by this virus and direct it to our vision of making indiana a healthier state.

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So many have given so much too much and so many have followed medical and scientific advice and.

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Recommendations and it is making a difference now, it's time to put aside our differences, put.

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All of our energy into beating this virus and creating a safer place for everyone.

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Then we can ensure all of the exorbitant resources being used to respond to this pandemic can be.

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Used to improve the health and well-being of those who seek to live their best life.

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The future is bright if we can demonstrate kindness, as penny said, and care for our fellow man.

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Please join us in this fight by ensuring you and your loved ones are vaccinated.

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Protecting yourself and others through masking social distancing and your best hygiene, let's.

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Take action together to ensure a bright future for all, and I will take questions at the end. All right.

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Let's next go to indiana university and kirk white well good afternoon. uh Everyone uh good updates.

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Although I wish our numbers were not going in the direction, they are, however, vaccination rates.

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Are doing a bit better and we uh we can take some some solace in the fact that that message.

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Is getting across and uh along those lines? um I'm really happy to to note today that.

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Across all of our campuses across the state, we're uh approaching an 85 percent.

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Vaccination rate for our students, faculty and staff and that's higher even for the bloomington.

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Campus approaching 90 percent nine zero, uh that's a great place to be, and that's why we're.

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We're convinced that uh we've got a good chance of getting us back to normal and uh uh certainly.

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uh Back to what we're expecting and that's, why we're we're excited about welcoming. So many of our.

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Students back to the campus and along those lines uh this weekend uh starts the the major move of.

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Students returning back to our residence halls, we expect about 3 800 students to arrive on.

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On sunday, the 15th they'll check in centrally and uh and at that point, if they've been vaccinated.

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uh They will uh move on through the process and if they uh have not yet been vaccinated.

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Or not fully vaccinated, they will be tested upon arrival uh and uh we. uh We then expect about 2.

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000 more to arrive in our residence halls over the next few days, culminating with the freshman.

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Induction ceremony on wednesday, the 18th in the afternoon at simon scott assembly hall.

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For uh testing this fall, you know key to what our success was. Last year before we had the vaccine.

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Was maintaining a high level of testing we're going to continue a lot of that this fall? We have.

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Several testing options that will all begin again next week, if students, faculty and staff are not.

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Fully vaccinated have an exemption on file with us. They will be uh tested once a week through our.

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Covet check program and that's how we'll be able to determine uh uh where our outbreaks might be.

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uh We will also have symptomatic testing available at our student health center and then, of course,.

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As we have continued last year, we'll have asymptomatic testing available for students.

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Faculty and staff beginning the week of the 23rd. So that's all back online and then classes of.

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Course will begin on august 23rd on the monday. We'll continue our contact tracing operations.

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This fall with anyone who does come up positive or reports. A positive case to us will help them.

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With finding their close contacts and getting them into uh a quarantine situation, if need be,.

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Of course, we have our masking requirement indoors that we've announced and we think that's the most.

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Judicious way to do things and we're pleased to be in sync, with the monroe county and.

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Cdc guidance along those lines and finally, as we've done all through the pandemic, we'll continue.

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To work with everybody on this call, our community leaders in the government, health care and and.

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Emergency management areas to really monitor things on a daily basis. And if we need to make.

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Changes uh to the campus uh posture- we will do that, but at this point we're very optimistic about.

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Where we'll be, this fall, even though there's uh still quite a bit of rent with uh the.

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Delta variant and uh the next waves of that that that may spike over the coming weeks in indiana.

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And all with that, I'll uh I'll put a link on to some of our welcome back uh announcements.

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And uh look forward to any questions. Thank you all right, thanks kirk, so going into questions.

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From dave askins the b-square beacon for penny caudle, do you know if the new 2020.

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Census figures will be incorporated into the state's dashboard for the per capita statistics.

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I have not heard the state report that yet I could see that happening. Certainly that would.

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Mean a change in those, so I'm not sure what their plan is at this time dave a question from dave for.

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Kirk white, can you confirm the vaccination rate for the iu bloomington campus close to 90 percent.

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Yes, that is correct. That's an average. uh Our faculty are a little uh higher than that.

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Staff is about that level and students a little less so it's about 90 is where we're approaching.

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And one thing that I always note when we talk about 85 percent throughout the iu system, is that.

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We, you know we're still getting some, not a lot, but some still in so it's not. That doesn't mean.

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That those are all exemptions, necessarily we we still have some reporting to get in at this point.

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Another question here from this for anyone given the very high relative rates of vaccination for.

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The indiana university community- that means the rate for non-iu affiliates in monroe county.

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Has to be significantly less than the county-wide number, which is now around 57.

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Of those eligible would it be useful to come up with a non-iu affiliate rate of vaccination, so.

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We don't feel complacent about having a better rate than other counties in indiana that don't.

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Have a major university located there penny I'll, throw that to you sure. Well, certainly don't want.

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To be complacent, with uh our numbers, regardless of what they are right, um that that's a tall order, it.

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Would be interesting uh certainly to be able to separate those out, except I will caution you that.

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When iu reports, those numbers, their faculty, students and staff are part of our community.

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Many of them live here on a permanent basis, whereas often times we think about students.

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As coming and going, but they don't all do that, so that is a very difficult thing.

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Certainly, I'm sure the incoming freshmen are changing those numbers and those kinds of things.

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So it it is a very good question. I don't know that we have the true ability to separate those out.

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um But I would say this: we we want everybody to consider being vaccinated if they are eligible.

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So that those numbers are all high and we can feel very secure about them.

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And then I'll, let others chime in that may have additional things to say.

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Going once anybody does well, if not we'll, go ahead and move on uh this one again from.

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The four penny from ethan burks wfiu: what has the county's communication been been.

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Like with the seven oaks classical school in ellisville, are they still refusing to.

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Require masks and how is the county's legal department planning to address the issue.

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Certainly ethan, we continue uh to reach out. We have um reached out to seven oaks and uh people.

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At the school and we'll be using our typical process of trying to work this out without any.

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Fines or going to court or those kinds of things, those are the last things that we want to do.

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I believe that we all have the same goal, and that should be that we want children.

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In school and we want students, faculty and staff to be safe and right now that would mean masks.

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So we are looking at. We double check laws. We make sure that we're, within the bounds of where our.

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Authority is, and we will continue that, follow up and take whatever action. We need to take.

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This question from ethan for brian: can you talk a little bit more in detail about the.

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Severity of people hospitalized with covid are all of them unvaccinated. How many on ventilators.

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Thank you for the question, so those of you who have had family members or loved.

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Ones who have come to our emergency room or any emergency room with coven 19 symptoms, oftentimes.

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Believe and know that they feel so terrible that they want to be admitted to the hospital.

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Although that's not the case, when we admit people, they truly are people who cannot keep their oxygen.

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Saturations up to a safe level and that are at risk of truly losing their ability to you know.

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Function and and be in serious condition. So there are lots of people in our community who struggle.

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With this virus and believe that they should be admitted but have to hit, you know certain criteria.

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Before we would admit them to the hospital, so I want to say that because every patient, who is an.

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Inpatient with the primary diagnosis of covit is a very, very sick individual. Now let me go to the.

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Ventilator right now, we've only got 13 of our ventilators in use over this 18 months of the.

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Pandemic we've learned a lot about this virus and we've learned a lot about how to try to use high.

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Flow oxygen to keep people off ventilators, that's the last resort. We want to go to so where, before.

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We were continuously reporting the percentage of ventilators in use and that percentage was high.

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That is lower now because we are utilizing other methods to treat people before we would go to that.

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To that ventilation on a ventilator and then as far as those who are vaccinated.

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It's a very low number um again: it's you know it's over 90s, always above 90 percent of those.

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Admitted to the hospital and hospitalized are uh vaccinated, how are uh uh are unbacked are.

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Unvaccinated, I'm sorry, but, however, with this covid delta variant, we are starting to see.

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Individuals who are immunocompromised, who are coming into the hospital in a situation where.

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They need to be hospitalized and they were vaccinated. Now. That number is still very low.

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But it is new uh over these past couple months, where we're starting to see vaccinated individuals.

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Who are sick enough to require admission where they cannot keep their oxygen levels up and need.

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To have that supportive care in a hospital 24, 7 environment, which means get vaccinated.

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um Get vaccinated so this virus doesn't spread the delta variant and all the other variants that have.

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Come and may come in the future are because we are not getting vaccinated. Our our bodies.

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Are hosts to this uh this virus and create these variants, and so it is the the solution. Vaccination.

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Okay, uh we'll take uh some more questions. If you have them, we have a few more minutes left here.

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Kirk, as promised just put that link up there kirk do you want to add anything to that.

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Well, I do want to add some good news that came to us yesterday that many of you were tracking.

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The united states supreme court uh refused to block uh the vaccine requirement that we have. We.

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Indiana university was really the first test case going through the federal court and now to the u.s.

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Supreme court uh indiana university was one of the first out of the blocks with this, and now uh that.

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The tally nationwide is close to 675 colleges and universities that have a vaccine requirement. This.

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Just shows that we are following the science and doing the best that we can, that we've.

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Tried all along the health and safety of our our students, faculty and staff, and by by extension, the.

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Communities where we live, we want to keep those as safe as we can and we're we're pleased that the.

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Legal system used past precedent for uh upholding our requirement, uh citing the requirements for.

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Other vaccinations, and so we uh think that will continue to stand and and help us on our road to.

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Recovery here we do feeling like we're in very good shape, starting the fall semester with that.

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In place and again any other questions that we have here for the group before we go and and by.

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The way bi-weekly can mean either every two weeks or twice a week, so it's really confusing so just.

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So every other week is the way we'll refer to this, and so I'm not going to say where it's a bi-weekly.

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News conference we're, although technically it is or maybe it's not- it will be back here a week.

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After next is, is the plan and and then we may uh adjust afterwards, depending on circumstances.

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So seeing no other questions, we will return week after next for our next friday news conference.

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Thanks everybody for your questions, we will see you then thank you. Thank you very much.