State Health Commissioner Worried About Post-Thanksgiving COVID-19 Case Spike

Brandon Smith

Article origination IPBS-RJC

Indiana's state health commissioner said she’s very concerned about a spike in COVID-19 cases following Thanksgiving.
*Lauren Chapman/IPB News*

State Health Commissioner Dr. Kris Box said she’s very concerned about a spike in COVID-19 cases following Thanksgiving.

Box said it appears many people are ignoring the advice of public health experts to stay at home this holiday weekend and not gather with people outside their household.

“Our hospitals are being inundated with COVID patients," Box said. "There is still time to make the hard choice today so that you can enjoy many more tomorrows with your loved ones.”

Box said if there is a spike in cases, hospital systems should continue what they’ve been doing for months to meet the surge.

“Have them reach out when they need something – if they need to transfer patients, if they need more ventilators, if they do need more staff, " Box said. "We need to be there to try to help answer the calls.”

A spike from Thanksgiving would likely show up in the state’s COVID-19 data a couple weeks after the holiday.

Contact reporter Brandon at bsmith@ipbs.org or follow him on Twitter at @brandonjsmith5.

Tags:coronavirus COVID-19 Indiana State Department of Health Kristina Box

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