Is Vigo County a COVID-19 hot spot?

Is Vigo County a COVID-19 hot spot?

Tomorrow afternoon.

As some states are planning to reopen...health leaders are wondering if now's the right time?

A new study says multiple counties could be new "hotspots" for the virus..

This is a part of the study done by the technology firm dataminr.

The study examined the study examined social media posts where spikes in virus cases haven't happened.

This was in 22 small cities and rural counties in 8 states.

One of them was vigo county... in other studies spikes in social media came before large outbreaks.

News 10's richard solomon joins us now live in the newsroom.

He has more from local health leaders and their perspective on the findings.

I asked roni elder with the vigo county health department if she thinks this is the right time for the stay at home order to be lifted.

She says no.

Reopening businesses could give people the wrong imression.

Elder says indiana still hasn't seen it's peak yet with the coronavirus.

Which means if certain gathering spots reopen...the virus could spread quickly.

And elder says that's even if social distancing is practiced.

Elder says the county health department hasn't been told if the stay at home order will be lifted or extended.

But she did say the health department is working with local leaders to figure out a plan...if..in case..the order is lifted.

Elder says health leaders don't know exactly when a peak could happen.

But they'll buckle down on self quaranting..and make sure hospitals are prepared.

"we don't want to have a huge peak we want to get through this with as little cases as we possibly can.

Just because the governor gives use a guideline doesn't mean that we can't crack down in our own county on what that means and on what guidelines we're going to follow."

Elder says it's important now more than ever to keep practicing social distancing...stay 6 ft a part...and wearing a face masks in public.

Reporting live in the newsroom richard solomon news 10 back to you.