Gov. Holcomb Signs Executive Order to Slow the Spread of COVID-19, call for blood donations and National Guard on stand-by

For Immediate Release: Tuesday, March 17, 2020 INDIANAPOLIS —
In a continuing effort to slow the spread of novel coronavirus (COVID-19), Governor Eric J. Holcomb has announced additional efforts.


Indiana will adhere to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for large events and mass gatherings. The guidance recommends no in-person events of more than 50 people. Here is a link to the guidance: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/community/large-events/mass-gatherings-ready-for-covid-19.html

Under the current guidance for schools, 273 public school districts are closed, using e-learning days, or on spring break and have announced a future closure. The Department of Education is working with the remaining 16 school corporations to determine their next steps and needs.

Bars, nightclubs and restaurants are required to close to in-person patrons and may provide take-out and delivery services through the end of March

Hospitals and ambulatory surgical centers should cancel and/or postpone elective and non-urgent surgical procedures immediately. This action will help the healthcare system conserve resources and personnel necessary to meet emerging health needs

Physicians should continue to perform critical procedures necessary to prevent short-term and/or long-term adverse effects to their patients’ overall health

The state’s Emergency Operations Center has been raised to a Level 1 status and will work in conjunction with the incident command center at the Indiana State Department of Health for planning, coordination, predictive analysis and other functions State employees will maximize the use of remote work and meet virtually whenever possible while maintaining operations.

Non-essential in-person meetings will be limited to 10 persons or less and should meet virtually whenever possible. High-risk individuals should not attend meetings in person

State employees over the age of 60 with underlying health conditions are advised to work from home, and agencies should identify work that can be accomplished remotely for those individuals

The Indiana State Museum and Historic Sites, which are closed on Mondays, will close to the public beginning Tuesday The visitors center at White River State Park will close Indiana state parks and recreation centers, including state park inns, remain open.

Restaurants will convert operations to take-out and delivery State agencies already are developing remote work plans for employees and will continue to implement them while maintaining necessary state services.

 Employees who work outdoors are encouraged to practice social distancing The Department of Workforce Development (DWD) has suspended rules requiring certain unemployment insurance claimants to physically appear at a Work One location to engage in reemployment services for the next four weeks.

This will ensure that individuals who may be symptomatic do not have to physically appear to continue their unemployment insurance eligibility The DWD will also request flexibility under federal and state law to expand eligibility for claimants and ease burdens on employers.

 The Indiana Economic Development Corporation will postpone the inaugural Indiana Global Economic Summit, scheduled for April 26-28 Communities are encouraged to work together to provide child care options for all who need assistance and delivery services of meals and other necessities for senior citizens

Hoosiers who can donate blood are encouraged to visit local blood centers. Blood supplies are low. Please follow the guidance at www.redcross.org More information may be found at the ISDH website at https://on.in.gov/COVID19 and the CDC website at https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html.

 The governor’s executive order also actives the Indiana National Guard to be on duty to assist as needed.

The governor’s executive order also delays non-essential public meetings. For essential meetings, one member is required to be physically present, but other members will be allowed to participate electronically.

Bars, nightclubs and restaurants should now be closed to dine-in patrons. They may provide take-out and delivery services through the end of March. The Governor expects those businesses to comply with the directive for the safety of Hoosiers in their communities without the need to call for enforcement measures.

Indiana Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) program has provided guidance to WIC agencies to help them continue to serve clients while protecting staff and their families. https://www.in.gov/isdh/19691.htm The CDC has issued new guidance for when people can come out of self-isolation or quarantine.
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/if-you-are-sick/steps-when-sick.html

The ISDH call center continues to experience high volume. Hoosiers with general questions are encouraged to visit the website in.gov/coronavirus for more information. ISDH has implemented a toll-free call center at 877-826-0011 that includes options for healthcare providers as well as the public. Call center staff will not offer medical advice or provide test results.

The Indiana Department of Workforce Development (DWD) has 12 Workforce Regions throughout the state. At least one WorkOne is open in each region, except Marion County. DWD is working with that local WorkOne to ensure unemployment insurance claimants who need access to a computer have that access.

The DWD office in the Indiana Government Center South in Marion County is open from 8 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. and has computers available for use. Here is a link to FAQ on Unemployment Insurance: https://www.in.gov/dwd/files/Indiana_Unemployment_FAQ.pdf

The Indiana State Library is now closed to the public. Access to the library’s online services, such as Ask-A-Librarian, INSPIRE and the Digital Collections, will continue to be available without interruption.

Indiana Division of Family Resources offices remain open, yet online applications or telephone calls strongly encouraged

INDIANAPOLIS – The Indiana Division of Family Resources operates at least one physical office in every Indiana county and, in order to serve Hoosiers in need, those offices remain open for business. However, in an effort to keep social contact to a minimum and prevent the spread of the coronavirus (COVID-19), DFR strongly urges Hoosiers to consider submitting applications for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) or health coverage (Medicaid) online. Applications can be submitted at www.fssabenefits.in.gov. Health coverage applications can also be completed by calling 800-403-0864. Clients may also report any necessary changes via that site. Required paperwork can also be mailed to P.O. Box 1810, Marion, IN 46952. For clients who feel the need to go to a local DFR local offices, these offices and their employees are taking precautions to promote social distancing while serving clients. However, DFR officials say the ideal method of conducting business is either online or over the phone.

HEALTH DEPARTMENT ANNOUNCES 1st COVID-19 DEATH IN INDIANA

INDIANAPOLIS — Indiana Governor Eric J. Holcomb and the Indiana State Department of Health (ISDH) today announced the first Indiana death from COVID-19. The patient is a Marion County adult. “A family today is suffering the ultimate loss due to COVID-19, and this sadly underscores how severe the virus can be – especially for some high-risk Hoosiers,” Gov. Holcomb said. “The state is taking unprecedented actions to slow the spread of COVID-19, and every Hoosier should follow the precautionary measures.” The adult from Marion County died at a Community Health Network hospital on Monday morning. The person, who was over age 60, had been hospitalized as a COVID-19 patient and also suffered from underlying medical conditions. No further information will be released about the patient or the case. “I cannot stress this enough – if you are ill, stay home. If you need to seek medical care, call ahead so that your healthcare provider can take steps to protect others from exposure to COVID-19,” said State Health Commissioner Kris Box, M.D., FACOG. “We all have a role to play to protect Hoosiers from this illness, and the time to act is now.” COVID-19 is a respiratory illness caused by a novel, or new, coronavirus that has not been previously identified. It is not the same as the type of coronavirus that causes the common cold. To date, 24 Hoosiers across 13 counties have received presumptive positive tests for COVID-19. All but one are adults. Human coronaviruses most commonly spread from an infected person to others through: Respiratory droplets released into the air by coughing and sneezing; Close personal contact, such as touching or shaking hands; Touching an object or surface with the virus on it and then touching your mouth, nose or eyes before washing your hands; and Rarely, fecal contamination. Many people who acquire COVID-19 will have mild symptoms, can self-isolate and do not need to be tested. Older individuals and those with underlying medical conditions are at higher risk for severe illness. The best ways to protect yourself are to wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, avoid touching your face with unwashed hands, avoid close contact with people who are sick, stay home when you’re sick, cover your cough or sneeze and clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces. The CDC does not recommend that people who are well wear a facemask to protect themselves from respiratory illnesses, including COVID-19. You should only wear a mask if a healthcare professional recommends it. A facemask should be used by people who have COVID-19 and are showing symptoms to protect others from the risk of infection. For a list of counties with positive cases, visit ISDH’s online dashboard at www.in.gov/coronavirus. The dashboard will be updated daily at 10 a.m. and will reflect results received through midnight. The website also includes guidance and a list of frequently asked questions. Visit the Indiana State Department of Health at www.StateHealth.in.gov or follow us on Twitter at @StateHealthIN and on Facebook at www.facebook.com/StateHealthIN.

Visitor restrictions in place at all Methodist Hospital campuses

In a letter to patients and customers this week, Vincent L. Sevier, MD, MBA, FACEP a Senior Vice President & Chief Quality Officer talks about updates to hospital policy in light of COVID-19, the disease caused by SarsCoV2 a novel coronavirus. "We know that news of the Coronavirus may have caused concerns. We want you to know that your health and well-being while visiting our facilities is a top priority at Methodist. We want to assure you that we are taking every precaution to ensure your safety during your visit. We are not recommending that patients cancel any appointments, procedures or elective surgeries. We have systems in place for screening and isolating any person who presents with symptoms and then fully supporting their care as warranted. We are fully capable of providing the necessary treatment for a patient with COVID-19 as well as minimizing risk to others." "We sanitize our clinics and patient rooms as well as all waiting rooms and public areas. We have stations throughout the campus with hand sanitizer, Kleenex and masks (for those who have cough or any cold symptoms). During this time we have imposed additional patient visitation restrictions. Visitors who are experiencing any signs of illness will not be permitted to enter and should visit their loved one by phone. The number of visitors is restricted to no more than 1 and no one under the age of 18 years." The letter asks customers and patients to remember to cover your cough and continue washing your hands. Current Visitor Restrictions Visitors under the age of 18 ARE NOT PERMITTED TO VISIT PATIENTS. CHILDREN CANNOT BE LEFT IN THE LOBBY WITHOUT ADULT SUPERVISION. If you have a fever, cough, headache or body aches, you ARE NOT PERMITTED TO VISIT PATIENTS in our inpatient units. ONLY ONE visitor per patient is allowed. Patients and visitors going to outpatient areas (clinics, emergency room, testing) with any of the above symptoms MUST WEAR A MASK. Before entering or leaving the hospital, PLEASE WASH HANDS WITH SOAP AND/OR SANITIZERS available throughout the hospital. Update on Testing Recommendations regarding testing and control of COVID-19 are rapidly evolving on both the state and federal level. Methodist Hospitals will continue to update our response based on these recommendations. At this time, Indiana State Department of Health has limited testing for the virus to severely ill patients admitted to the hospital, healthcare workers who have been exposed to confirmed cases and some symptomatic individuals in high risk populations. If You have Symptoms If you develop symptoms such as fever, cough or shortness of breath, stay home and call your healthcare provider. Older patients and individuals who have severe underlying medical conditions or are immunocompromised should contact their healthcare provider early, even if their illness is mild. If you have severe symptoms, contact your healthcare provider or emergency room and seek care immediately.

Lowes gets ahead of sarscov2 in letter to customers

At Lowe’s, we recognize the important role our stores play in providing essential products and services to our customers and communities. The health and well-being of our valued customers and associates are always our priority, and as we navigate the rapidly evolving coronavirus (COVID-19) situation together, I want to share with you the extra precautions we’re taking at Lowe’s to serve you. We’ve spent the last several weeks preparing for how the virus may impact the communities we serve. We’ve established a task force that is working closely with the CDC, health authorities and all stores across the country to ensure we’re taking all necessary preventative measures. We will continue to keep you, our valued customer, and our associates at the center of our planning and decision making. Supporting our associates We continue to share information with associates on the best ways to keep themselves and their families safe and healthy. To help prevent the spread of the virus, we’re encouraging anyone who feels sick to stay home, and we’ve also put in place new temporary time-off guidelines to give our associates even greater flexibility and pay them for the time they need to stay home and get well. We’ve also provided on-demand resources to answer our associates’ most frequently asked questions. Keeping our stores clean and safe We’ve always been proud of the cleanliness and operations of our stores, and we know that keeping them clean and sanitized is even more important now. In addition to our daily cleaning efforts, we’re increasing the time spent cleaning and sanitizing our stores, especially in our most frequented areas like checkout lanes, restrooms and associate break rooms. Bottom line: we want you to feel comfortable shopping in our stores. Stocking and delivering products you need We have teams working closely with our suppliers to ensure the products you want are available when you need them. Due to high demand for items such as masks and cleaning supplies, we recently started limiting the number of items per purchase to ensure more customers are able to get the products they need. We’re working to keep our shelves stocked as quickly as possible. We continue to offer more ways for you to get the products you need most – whether that’s through buy online, pick-up in store or quick delivery options. Addressing in-home customer service We continue to run all services as usual. Should you have concerns about installations, deliveries or in-home consultations, we’re here to support you and offer flexibility to reschedule at your convenience. We encourage you to contact us at 1-800-445-6937 if you have questions or want to reschedule any services. I want to thank you for your support and understanding during a rapidly evolving situation as we make every effort to support our customers, associates and the communities we serve. God Bless, Marvin Ellison, Lowe’s President and CEO

HEALTH DEPARTMENT UPDATES COVID-19 CASE COUNTS, DASHBOARD

INDIANAPOLIS —The Indiana State Department of Health (ISDH) has updated its new COVID-19 online dashboard to reflect two additional presumptive positive cases. The patients reside in Adams and Boone counties. This brings to six the number of Hoosiers who have tested positive for COVID-19.

The dashboard can be found at https://on.in.gov/COVID19 and will be updated daily at 10 a.m. and will reflect results received through midnight.

STATE HEALTH DEPARTMENT REPORTS INCREASE IN COVID-19 CASES

INDIANAPOLIS—The Indiana State Department of Health (ISDH) will provide daily updates regarding COVID-19 in Indiana as activity has increased across the United States. As of 4 p.m. Monday:

• ISDH has confirmed four presumptive positive cases of COVID-19 since Friday, March 6.
• Three patients are adults.
• One patient is a juvenile.
• The individuals reside in Marion, Hendricks and Noble counties.
• The Marion and Hendricks County patients are self-isolating. The Noble County patient is currently hospitalized.
• No other information about the patients or their conditions will be released.
• In total, ISDH has tested 32 individuals, including 3 individuals whose tests were sent to CDC.
• Two adult patients have a recent history of travel to business events where transmission of COVID-19 has occurred. The third adult patient also has a reported history of travel.

• In connection with these specific cases, ISDH is working closely with health officials in all three counties, the Avon Community School Corp. and the Indiana Department of Education to ensure infection control protocols are in place and make the best determinations to reduce further transmission of COVID-19.
• The spread of COVID-19 in Indiana is shifting to community transmission, as expected. The best ways to protect yourself are to wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, avoid touching your face with unwashed hands, avoid close contact with people who are sick, stay home when you’re sick, cover your cough or sneeze and clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces.
• High-risk populations, such as elderly residents or people with weakened immune systems, should consider whether they need to socially distance themselves.
• Avon Community Schools has decided to close all its schools through March 20.

• ISDH is recommending long-term care facilities and hospitals review their visitation polices.
• ISDH recommends that nursing homes follow the latest guidance from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, found here.
• Many hospitals have visitor restrictions in place due to influenza. ISDH recommends hospitals continue to monitor the situation and revise those policies as appropriate.

• Indiana State Health Commissioner Dr. Kris Box, M.D., FACOG, and Indiana Department of Homeland Security Director Stephen Cox will begin meeting with Indiana’s 10 public health preparedness districts this week to review strategies and engage in person with local emergency management services, hospitals, county health departments and emergency management agencies.

• The State has upgraded its Emergency Operations Center to a Level 3 to allow for more coordination among state agencies.

• The ISDH call center for healthcare providers and members of the public who have concerns about COVID-19 will be staffed 24 hours a day at 317-233-7125.
• While the call center is now staffed 24/7, the public is asked to use the ISDH COVID-19 website, the CDC website or contact their healthcare provider with questions or to learn the most up-to-date information about the outbreak and what steps to take. Questions about symptoms and many risk factors, as well as guidance on travel, can be answered using the websites, which will leave the call center lines open to take calls from healthcare providers or others regarding the most ill patients. 

• The ISDH Laboratories follow CDC guidance on which patients to test. Patients who do not meet those guidelines can ask their healthcare providers about being tested by a private lab.

• ISDH encourages providers to use private labs that have come on line for lower-risk patients to allow the ISDH lab to focus on those at highest risk and those who are more severely ill.
• If you suspect you have COVID-19 but have mild symptoms, you are asked to stay home and consult with your healthcare provider.

All confirmed COVID-19 patients are required to remain in isolation until specimens taken on two consecutive days test negative for COVID-19. Individuals who have recently visited an area under a Level 3 travel warning also are asked to self-isolate for 14 days and notify their local health department or a healthcare provider if they develop symptoms of COVID-19, which include cough, fever and shortness of breath.

COVID-19 is a respiratory illness caused by a novel, or new, coronavirus that has not been previously identified. The virus causing COVID-19 is not the same as the coronaviruses that commonly circulate among humans and cause mild illness, like the common cold. Human coronaviruses most commonly spread from an infected person to others through:

• Respiratory droplets released into the air by coughing and sneezing;
• Close personal contact, such as touching or shaking hands;
• Touching an object or surface with the virus on it, then touching your mouth, nose, or eyes before washing your hands; and
• Rarely, fecal contamination.

The CDC does not recommend that people who are well, wear a facemask to protect themselves from respiratory illnesses, including COVID-19. You should only wear a mask if a healthcare professional recommends it. A facemask should be used by people who have COVID-19 and are showing symptoms to protect others from the risk of infection.

This is an ongoing situation and is evolving rapidly. For more information, including a list of frequently asked questions, visit https://on.in.gov/COVID19 and subscribe to receive updates. Future updates will also be posted to this website.

Visit the Indiana State Department of Health at http://www.in.gov/isdh/ or follow us on Twitter at @StateHealthIN and on Facebook at www.facebook.com/StateHealthIN.