On Saturday, the Indiana State Department of Health reported the 48th, 49th, 50th and 51st COVID-19 deaths in Wabash County.
Meanwhile, during a televised press conference Wednesday, Jan. 20, state health commissioner Kristina Box said there had been at least four cases of United Kingdom B.1.1.7 strain identified in Indiana.
In total, 122 cases have been identified in at least 20 states.
âThis strain is a mutation of the virus and it is more easily transmitted than the strain we were dealing with up until now,â said Box. âThere are also are reports of other mutations including one that has been detected in South Africa. This new strain behaves much like the UK variant and also is more transmissible. It has not been detected in North America, but we continue to monitor closely for this mutation.â
On Wednesday, the state released its plan to more widely distribute COVID-19 vaccines and the following day, Wabash announced it would open its vaccination site next week.
Meanwhile, Wabash Countyâs COVID-19 spread rating remains in the orange or second-highest category. The Indiana State Department of Health (ISDH) dashboard was updated Wednesday, Jan. 6 with results as of 11:59 p.m. Monday, Jan. 4. The county metrics map is updated at noon Wednesdays and reflects data through the previous Sunday.
State releases vaccine plan
On Wednesday, Gov. Eric J. Holcomb and the ISDH announced that Hoosiers age 80 and older will be eligible to register for a free COVID-19 vaccine beginning Friday, Jan. 8.