By John Estridge
Franklin County’s positive COVID-19 cases have increased more than 10 percent since Tuesday, July 21, and more than 30 percent in the last two weeks.
At the Franklin County Health Board meeting Tuesday, July 21, Franklin County Health Nurse Angie Ruther reported the county had 153 cases at that time.
As of 2 p.m., Monday, July 27, the Indiana Department of Health reported the county has 173 positive cases. That is an increase of 20 in less than a week. And according to Ruther’s figures from the meeting last week, that means there have been 47 new cases since July 1 and 38 new cases in the last two weeks.
That is an increase of more than 30 percent in two weeks.
The Indiana State Department of Health (IDH) is the entity tracking the virus; thus, the local health department does not have any figures on if there are hot spots within the county.
These figures come at a time when the school system is readying its school reopening plan to begin next week. High school athletics are also ready to begin with girls’ golf starting its competition on Monday, Aug. 3, at the Richmond Invitational.
The Franklin County Community School Corporation Board of Trustees is having a special meeting at 2 p.m., Wednesday, July 29. Part of the agenda is to discuss proposed amendments to the reopening plan.
Eight people have died in FC from the virus. At the July 21 meeting, Ruther said two of the new cases at that time were in critical condition and a third was in the hospital. A 5-year-old also tested positive. The local health department did not release information concerning the 20 new cases this week.
When the IDH started reporting figures on the virus, Ripley, Decatur and Franklin counties were determined to be the hottest spot percentage wise in the entire Midwest.