Including Antigen Testing Figures, Kosciusko COVID Positive Count Nears 1,000
Including Antigen Testing Figures, Kosciusko COVID Positive Count Nears 1,000
Posted
David Slone-dslone@timesuniononline.com
Including Antigen Testing Figures, Kosciusko COVID Positive Count Nears 1,000As the Indiana State Department of Health has started to add antigen tests to its daily reports as of Monday, that will affect the number of COVID-19 positive cases the Kosciusko County Health Department reports receiving.
The KCHD received three new molecular cases between noon Aug. 20 and noon Tuesday.
Before the end of July, the only reportable COVID-19 test was a molecular or PCR test. Since the end of July, the ISDH determined antigen tests to be reportable and investigatable but were not added to cumulative reports, according to Tuesday’s news release from the KCHD. However, the ISDH has now decided that both antigen and molecular tests are reportable, investigatable and added to cumulative reports. Serology, or antibody tests, are still not reportable, investigatable or added to cumulative reports.
The ISDH has outlined the differences between a molecular, serology and antigen test:
• Serology tests detect the body’s immune response through the production of antibodies.
• Molecular tests (also commonly referred to as PCR) detect the virus’s genetic material.
• Antigen tests detect viral proteins.
Kosciusko County had its first positive COVID-19 antigen test on July 30. As of Tuesday, Kosciusko County reports 90 positive antigen tests. This gives Kosciusko County a cumulative total of 994 positive antigen and molecular cases and 12 deaths since the first case was reported in March.
Of the 904 molecular COVID-19 cases, 824 are recovered, three are hospitalized active cases, 65 are active cases and 12 are deceased, according to the graph provided by the KCHD.
Free Testing Saturday
A free COVID-19 testing event is scheduled for Saturday, Aug. 29 at Our Lady of Guadalupe Church, 225 Gilliam Drive, Warsaw. The church is located behind Lassus Handy Dandy and near The Bowling Alley off of Ind. 15.
Tests will be free of cost to everyone. The city of Warsaw is partnering to cover the costs of these tests with CARES Act money.
Anyone 2 and older may be tested. Individuals do not need to have a known exposure or symptoms to be tested. Anyone may be tested for any reason.
Interpreters will be available. No health insurance is required. It is asked that you bring proof of your address (government ID, Matricula Consular, cell phone bill, pay stub, utility bill, etc.).
CARES Act-funded testing is also available at Parkview Warsaw Monday through Friday or at any of the three MedStat locations seven days a week by registering at medstatonline.com.
State Data
The ISDH on Tuesday announced that 841 additional Hoosiers have been diagnosed with COVID-19 through testing at ISDH, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and private laboratories. That brings to 88,421 the total number of Indiana residents known to have the novel coronavirus following corrections to Monday’s dashboard, according to Tuesday’s daily briefing from the ISDH.
A total of 3,023 Hoosiers are confirmed to have died from COVID-19, an increase of 15 from Monday. Another 218 probable deaths have been reported based on clinical diagnoses in patients for whom no positive test is on record. Deaths are reported based on when data are received by ISDH and occurred over multiple days.
As of Tuesday, nearly 42% of ICU beds and nearly 84% of ventilators are available across the state.
Also as of Tuesday, 1,010,981 tests for unique individuals have been reported to ISDH, up from 1,002,038 on Monday.
