On Call List Conditions
In an effort to protect our citizens who do not presently qualify to sign up on Indiana’s vaccine registration site online at ourshot.in.gov or 211, conditions below will be prioritized for the On Call List for the Noble County Indiana Vaccine Clinic site at the Noble County Public Library, 813 E. Main St., Albion.
(Being on this list does not guarantee a vaccine before you otherwise qualify for vaccine on the basis of age or condition.)
If you want to be put on the list to be called in for “extra” vaccine, you can call our COVID Vaccine Call Center at 260-508-0232 during the following hours:
Mondays 9AM-5PM
Wednesdays Noon-8PM
Fridays 9AM-5PM
Saturdays 9AM-5PM
The below list of underlying medical conditions is not exhaustive and only includes conditions with sufficient evidence to draw conclusions; it is subject to potentially rapid change as the science evolves. Notably, the list may not include every condition that might increase one’s risk for developing severe illness from COVID-19, such as those for which evidence may be limited (e.g., rare conditions). Individuals with any underlying medical condition (including those conditions that are NOT on the current list) should consult with their healthcare providers about personal risk factors and circumstances to determine whether extra precautions are warranted.
Adults of any age with certain underlying medical conditions are at increased risk for severe illness from the virus that causes COVID-19. Severe illness from COVID-19 is defined as hospitalization, admission to the ICU, intubation or mechanical ventilation, or death.
Adults of any age with the following conditions are at increased risk of severe illness from the virus that causes COVID-19:
COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease)
Heart conditions, such as heart failure, coronary artery disease, or cardiomyopathies
Immunocompromised state (weakened immune system) from solid organ transplant
Obesity (body mass index [BMI] of 30 kg/m2 or higher but < 40 kg/m2)
Severe Obesity (BMI ≥ 40 kg/m2)
COVID-19 is a new disease. Currently there are limited data and information about the impact of many underlying medical conditions on the risk for severe illness from COVID-19. Based on what we know at this time, adults of any age with the following conditions might be at an increased risk for severe illness from the virus that causes COVID-19:
Cerebrovascular disease (affects blood vessels and blood supply to the brain)
Hypertension or high blood pressure
Neurologic conditions, such as dementia
Overweight (BMI > 25 kg/m2, but < 30 kg/m2)
Pulmonary fibrosis (having damaged or scarred lung tissues)
Thalassemia (a type of blood disorder)
For information on how to schedule an appointment for a COVID-19 vaccination, please click the link below:
COVID-19 VACCINE FOR HOOSIERS 60 AND OLDER
**Please note that the vaccination site is located at the Noble County Public Library, 813 E. Main Street, Albion, IN 46701 (lower level).
If you need additional assistance scheduling an appointment for your COVID 19 Vaccination, please call our registration hotline at (260) 508-0232 during regular COVID clinic hours:
Monday - 9:00 am-5:00 pm
Wednesday 12:00 pm - 8:00 pm
Friday 9:00 am - 5:00 pm
Saturday 9:00 am - 5:00 pm
EFFECTIVE 12-13-2020 - The latest Executive Order can be found here:
/sites/default/files/web-files/executive_order_20-50.pdf?690
EFFECTIVE 11-18-2020 - Public Health Order from Noble County Health Officer can be found here: PUBLIC HEALTH ORDER
For information on how to schedule an appointment to be tested at one of the free testing sites, please click the link below:
Orders of Governor Holcomb: full listings of all Executive Orders can be found at: in.gov/gov
Printable Mask up Signage
https://www.coronavirus.in.gov/files/FaceMaskRequired_Businesses.pdf
https://www.coronavirus.in.gov/files/FaceMaskRequired_Businesses_Spanish...
Information on making homemade mask.
From the Noble County Health Department:
For Noble County Nixle alerts, text noblenews to 888777 and tell your family and friends. Reliable communication is key to managing situations like COVID-19. We connot be responsible if your phone provider has additional charges for incoming texts
May 11th, 2020
NOBLE COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT COVID-19 HOTLINE NUMBER
Like and Follow our Facebook Page for regular updates: Noble County Health Department
Stay in the know regarding COVID-19!
Current Case and Death Counts
Update as of 2/22/2021 - Indiana reports 656,358 cases of Covid19. 11,982 of those cases have resulted in death. Noble County reports 5060 cases and 75 deaths at this time.
PUBLIC HEALTH ORDER
NOBLE COUNTY HEALTH OFFICER
JANUARY 14, 2020
Due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and the recent surge of new cases and related hospitalizations in Allen County, and pursuant to the authority granted in Governor Eric Holcomb’s Executive Order 20-50 issued December 10, 2020, and extended through January 24, 2021 by Executive Order 20-53, and the authority granted by I.C. 16-41-9-1.6, I, the Noble County, Indiana, Health Officer ORDER the following local restrictions for Noble County, Indiana, which are in addition to those set forth in Executive Order 20-50. The definitions and provisions of Executive Order 20-50 are incorporated here in their entirety by reference. This Order shall become effective at 12:00 AM on January 16, 2021, and shall expire at 11:59 PM on January 31, 2021, unless superseded by a later Executive Order issued by Governor Holcomb or rescinded by the Health Officer.
Social Gatherings and Events are specific categories of human interactions defined in Executive Orders 20-48 and 20-50. While there are establishments and facilities that tend to host a majority of non-residential Social Gatherings and Events, i.e. banquet and event halls, conference centers, etc., the Health Officer and Noble County Health Department do not interpret the provisions of the Governor’s Executive Order pertaining to Social Gatherings and Events to be exclusive to those establishments or facilities. All facilities or individuals that host Social Gatherings and Events, including, but not limited to, entertainment venues, sports venues, restaurants, bars, taverns, nightclubs, and other establishments providing in-person food and drink service, shall, pursuant to Executive Order 20-50, follow the provisions and restrictions for Social Gatherings and Events.
Pursuant to Executive Order 20-50, the Noble County Health Department will not accept or approve plans for Social Gatherings or Events at which attendance is expected to surpass the limits set forth in Executive Order 20-50, Paragraphs 7.c. and 7.e..
During any period of time in which Noble County is designated as Red under Executive Order 20-50, the following additional restrictions applicable to restaurants, bars, taverns, nightclubs, and other establishments providing in-person food and drink service are hereby ORDERED.
Sports Events in Noble County shall be conducted in accordance with Paragraph 7.f. of Executive Order 20-50. Additional spectator attendance at collegiate or professional sports games and tournaments may be approved by the Noble County Health Department upon submission of a safety plan submitted seven (7) days in advance of the event and submitted with the Noble County Health Department COVID-19 Gathering and Events Plan Review Submission cover sheet indicating that the host will comply with the following safety provisions:
During any period of time in which Noble County is designated as Red under Executive Order 20-50, the following additional restrictions applicable to gyms and exercise and fitness centers are hereby ORDERED.
Pursuant to Section 9.e. of Executive Order 20-50, a county will be moved to a more restrictive category whenever the county’s metric/score rises to the higher category; however, a county must meet the metrics/score of a less restrictive category for two (2) consecutive weeks before being permitted to move to that category.
Unless otherwise specified in this Public Health Order, dated January 14, 2021, the restrictions imposed by Governor Holcomb’s Executive Order 20-50 (extended by Executive Order 20-53) apply unless superseded by a later Executive Order issued by Governor Holcomb.
___________________________________
Terry Gaff, M.D.
Noble County Health Officer
PUBLIC HEALTH ORDER
NOBLE COUNTY HEALTH OFFICER
NOVEMBER 18, 2020
(This Order is more restrictive than Executive Order 20-48 in that it sets upper limits on the Social Gathering/Event Safety Plans that will be reviewed by the Noble County Health Department as well as in other regards. It is in no way less restrictive.)
Due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and the recent surge of new cases and related hospitalizations in Noble County, and pursuant to the authority granted in Governor Eric Holcomb’s Executive Order 20-48 issued November 13, 2020 (hereinafter referred to as Executive Order 20-48 or the Executive Order), and the authority granted by I.C. 16-41-9-1.6, I, the Noble County, Indiana, Health Officer ORDER the following local restrictions for Noble County, Indiana, which are in addition to those set forth Executive Order 20-48. The definitions and provisions of Executive Order 20-48 are incorporated here in their entirety by reference. This Order shall become effective at 12:01 a.m. on November 22, 2020 and shall expire at 11:59 PM on December 12, 2020.
Pursuant to Section 7.c. of Executive Order 20-48, Social Gatherings (as defined by the Executive Order) are limited in number pursuant to the applicable color designation for the County as indicated in the Executive Order. The Executive Order provides that if the host of the Social Gathering cannot cancel, postpone, or reduce the number of individuals expected to be present at the Social Gathering to comply with the applicable limit, then the host shall seek and obtain approval of a safety plan for the Social Gathering from the local Health Department. It is hereby ORDERED that no such plan shall be approved by the Noble County Health Department unless the number of people to be present at the Social Gathering shall be less than the following according to the applicable color-coded metric designation and unless the safety plan is submitted with the Noble County Health Department COVID-19 Gathering & Events Plan Review Submission cover sheet indicating that the host will comply with the safety provisions contained in Section 7.f. of the Executive Order.
Orange: 250
Red: 100
Pursuant to Section 7.e. of Executive Order 20-48, Events (as defined by the Executive Order) are limited in number pursuant to the applicable color designation for the County as indicated in the Executive Order. The Executive Order provides that if the host of the Event cannot cancel or reduce the number of individuals expected to be present at the Event to comply with the applicable limit, then the Host shall seek and obtain approval of a safety plan for the Event from the local Health Department. It is hereby ORDERED that no such plan shall be approved by the Noble County Health Department unless the number of people to be present at the Event shall be less than the following according to the applicable color-coded metric designation and unless the safety plan is submitted with the Noble County Health Department COVID-19 Gathering & Events Plan Review Submission cover sheet indicating that the host will comply with the safety provisions contained in Section 7.f. of the Executive Order.
Orange: 250
Red: 100
Notwithstanding Sections 1 and 2 of this Public Health Order, for venues with multiple, clearly separate areas, such as separate banquet rooms, conference rooms, or multiple sports fields, it is ORDERED that a submitted safety plan submitted to the Noble County Health Department in accordance with Sections 7.c. and 7.e. of the Executive Order may be approved for each separate area up to a maximum of 250 individuals per gathering or event during any time that Noble County is designated as Orange under Executive Order 20-48 or up to a maximum of 100 individuals per gathering or event during any time that Noble County is designated as Red under Executive Order 20-48. The safety plan for each separate and discrete area of a multiple site venue must be submitted with the Noble County Health Department COVID-19 Gathering & Events Plan Review Submission cover sheet indicating that the host will comply with the safety provisions contained in Section 7.f. of the Executive Order. In addition, the venue shall:
In addition to the requirements set forth in Sections 9.c. and 9.d. of Executive Order 20-48, it is hereby ORDERED that community recreational sports leagues and tournaments shall also be restricted in the number of individuals present (including participants, personnel, and spectators) based on the color-coded metric designation for the County as follows.
Orange: 250
Red: 100
During any period of time in which Noble County is designated as Red under Executive Order 20-48, the following additional restrictions applicable to restaurants, bars, taverns, nightclubs, and other establishments providing in-person food and drink service are hereby ORDERED.
During any period of time in which Noble County is designated as Red under Executive Order 20-48, the following additional restrictions applicable to gyms and exercise and fitness centers are hereby ORDERED.
Pursuant to Section 9.e. of Executive Order 20-48, a county will be moved to a more restrictive category whenever the county’s metric/score rises to the higher category; however, a county must meet the metrics/score of a less restrictive category for two (2) consecutive weeks before being permitted to move to that category.
Unless otherwise specified in this Public Health Order, dated November 18, 2020, the restrictions imposed by Governor Holcomb’s Executive Order 20-48 apply unless superseded by a later Executive Order issued by Governor Holcomb.
___________________________________
Terry Gaff, M.D.
Noble County Health Officer
Covid Etiquette! By Dr. Terry Gaff - Noble County Health Officer
COVID-19 Etiquette 2020.14
Hopefully, everyone has gotten the message by now that we are supposed to try to keep 6 feet between us and everyone else. Because of the COVID-19 pandemic virus, being closer might endanger us and those around us, which is potentially dangerous and downright rude.
But rudeness can be countered by applying social etiquette. So, here are some rules of COVID-19 etiquette suggested by friends on Facebook.
Feel free to add your own suggestions.
If you need information about how to be safe in this time of uncertainty, consult the websites of reliable sources, like the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) or the National Institutes of Health (NIH). But do not become surprised if you cannot find all the answers to your questions, because much is still unknown.
If all else fails, just try to use common sense and courtesy to others.
Isolation vs Quarantine Press Release 09.2020
There seems to be some confusion about what is meant by isolation and quarantine in our response to COVID-19.
Isolation is used to separate people infected with SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, from people who are not infected, even in their home.
Quarantine keeps someone who might have been exposed to the virus away from others.
Who needs to isolate?
Steps to take to isolate:
After isolation, you can be with others after the following:
(If you had severe illness from COVID-19, your healthcare provider may recommend that you stay in isolation for longer than 10 days after your symptoms first appeared.)
If you tested positive for COVID-19 but have no symptoms, you can be with others after:
On the other hand, quarantine is separating and restricting the movement of people who were exposed to the disease to see if they become sick.
Individuals exposed to a person who has tested positive for COVID-19 should quarantine for 14 days after their last exposure, even if they test negative before the end of quarantine.
People need to quarantine who have been in close contact with someone who has COVID-19 (except people who have tested positive for COVID-19 do not need to quarantine or get tested again for up to three months as long as they do not develop symptoms again.)
What counts as close contact?
How to be quarantined:
As you can see, isolation is stricter but briefer than quarantine because the virus is contagious for a shorter time (10 days) than the possible incubation period (14 days) after just being exposed to a positive case. However, both are important in the effort to control the spread of the virus to those around you.