Wayne County has surpassed 6,000 lab-confirmed positive cases of COVID.
Data provided Wednesday, Jan. 20, by Indiana State Department of Health shows 6,037 cases of COVID in Wayne County since the pandemic began.
A one-day increase of 54 new cases pushed the county past the 6,000 mark.
Wayne County has had 159 deaths related to the virus.
Cases are rising in other nearby counties as well.
Henry County just surpassed a total of 5,000 cases since the spring, with numbers standing at 5,007 as of Wednesday. Henry County has had 64 deaths to date.
Fayette County has had 2,439 positive tests and 48 deaths.
Randolph County is not far behind with 2,104 cases and 45 deaths.
Franklin County has had 1,455 cases and 33 deaths to date.
Union County now stands at 616 positive cases and six deaths.
COVID-19 vaccinations are now available for those 70 and older. They also are offered to first responders (fire, law enforcement, EMS, reservist or volunteer who interacts with the public) as well as health care workers who have face-to-face interactions with patients or contact with infectious material.
To schedule an appointment, visit https://www.coronavirus.in.gov/vaccine/
Those who do not have internet access are encouraged to call 211 or their local health department for assistance in registering.
In Wayne County, vaccinations are now available at the Reid Health clinic at Kuhlman Center, or the Wayne County Health Department clinic at the former Elder-Beerman store in downtown Richmond. Vaccinations also are available at locations around the region.
As of Wednesday afternoon, appointments for those groups could be scheduled throughout the day Thursday, Friday and Saturday at Kuhlman Center.
WCHD’s site at Elder-Beerman is booked until the evening of Feb. 2.
In Henry County, Henry Community Health and the county health department are offering the vaccine.
Health departments in Fayette, Franklin, Union and Randolph counties are offering the vaccine as well.
Hoosiers may go outside their home counties for vaccinations if needed.