Latest Coronavirus Update Includes Advice From Mayor, Additional Steps By Governor
March 13, 2020 at 1:17 a.m.
Latest Coronavirus Update Includes Advice From Mayor, Additional Steps By Governor
By David [email protected]
Governor Eric Holcomb Thursday also announced some additional steps the state will take to reduce the spread of COVID-19 in Indiana.
Thallemer noted that the World Health Organization called it a pandemic Wednesday. St. Joe County on Wednesday confirmed a case of COVID-19, and a case earlier this week was confirmed in Noble County.
Grace College in Winona Lake on Wednesday said that while no student or staff cases have been confirmed there, a student did get tested. She is at home and not on campus, according to Grace.
Grace has taken the precaution to cancel chapel, large group visits, overnight guests and its Silver Scholars Program for the foreseeable future.
Grace College President Dr. Bill Katip commented, “Our highest priority is to safeguard the health and well-being of our students and employees. We will continue to closely monitor coronavirus developments and make decisions accordingly, including the possibility of online instruction.”
“These cases are on our doorstep, and with private testing being initiated this past Monday, health officials expect that more cases will be confirmed,” Thallemer said Thursday.
Bob Weaver, Teresa Reed and Dr. William Remington from the county health department are “doing an outstanding job locally, educating our health care workers, first responders, schools and nursing home providers,” he said. “They are a critical source of information in our county to make local public health decisions based on facts and the science of epidemiology.”
Thallemer said the county commissioners are in constant contact with the health department, and the city is fully supportive of their work.
He reminded everyone to frequently wash their hands, keep a little extra distance from others, stay at home if they’re sick and call ahead if you need to see a doctor.
“What I’d also do is really ask you to get on the CDC coronavirus website, as well as the Indiana State Department of Health website, for the most up-to-date information. Those websites have provided a lot of information locally,” Thallemer said.
As he and the commissioners work with the health department, Thallemer said he fully believes the precautions taken locally and at all levels of government have been “superb.”
“I’m confident that by following instructions to minimize the spread of the virus, we will get through all of this,” he said.
What everyone is saying, Thallemer said he learned Wednesday, was that “this is changing quickly.” The information provided, cases, testing and what’s happening locally continues to evolve, he said. “Rest assured, that locally, the Kosciusko County Health Department is doing a magnificent job in working with local elected officials. As things change, we will all know at the same time,” he said.
As of noon Thursday, the state had 12 Hoosiers who have tested presumptively positive for COVID-19, according to the release from Holcomb’s office.
“This is a time when we must do all we can to reduce the spread of COVID-19, protect our most vulnerable populations and reduce their potential to acquire or spread this virus,” said Holcomb. “While some actions are drastic, now, not later, is the time to act.”
The actions Holcomb initiated Thursday include:
• Non-essential gatherings must be limited to no more than 250 people. Detailed guidance is posted on the ISDH website.
• School corporations will be provided with a 20-day waiver of the required 180 instructional days for use as needed for the remainder of the academic year. The waived days do not need to be used consecutively and can be leveraged as needed.
• Child care and adult day care facilities should institute social distancing and minimize large gatherings.
• Nursing facilities and hospitals should restrict and screen visitors.
• The Indiana Department of Correction has suspended visitation at all facilities as a precaution for the health and safety of IDOC staff and offenders.
• Individuals over 60 years of age or those with a known underlying health issue such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes or chronic respiratory disease should limit their public exposure.
• Those who run senior centers and congregate meal services should consider suspending congregate meals services and arrange for home delivery.
• Encourage businesses to utilize telework policies, if available.
Holcomb is also issuing guidance for state employee operations. The state will suspend all non-essential out-of-state and international travel for the next 45 days. The state is also providing employees with guidance about the use of leave and remote work options for limited durations while ensuring the delivery of essential state services.
“I fully expect there will be additional actions warranted in the coming days,” Holcomb said. “Just as we have since the beginning of the year, we are working with partners at all levels to secure all necessary resources for any escalation of this virus.”
Warsaw Community Schools announced that Kindergarten Round-Up for Thursday was canceled. In order to help stem the potential spread of the COVID-19 virus, WCS is taking preventative measures, according to a news release.
Resources and digital forms will be posted and shared with parents of incoming kindergarten students. More information will be posted on the WCS district website at warsawschools.org.
As per guidance released by Holcomb on non-essential gatherings at this time, Tippecanoe Valley School Corp. will be postponing the Valley Hometown Fund Alumni Game scheduled for today. Watch for a possible rescheduled date.
Also Thursday, REAL Services of Kosciusko County announced they were suspending all non-essential services.
The 2020 Community Quiz Bowl scheduled for Tuesday has been postponed due to the concerns surrounding the COVID-19 (coronavirus) outbreak.
The Warsaw Education Foundation Board of Directors made the decision Thursday to postpone. The Foundation plans to re-evaluate the situation after Warsaw Community Schools spring break April 6-10 and announce a rescheduled date for the 2020 Community Quiz Bowl. Visit the foundation’s website and Facebook page for updates.
The Indiana State School Music Association was scheduled to sponsor student music festivals in the next few weeks with over 35,000 students from over 300 schools participating at more than 30 different school facilities throughout the state. After consultation with the ISDH, it has been decided by the ISSMA Executive Committee that to help protect students, school, and communities from the spread of the COVID-19/Coronavirus, all ISSMA sponsored music events will be cancelled through April 11. This would include all Junior/Middle/Elementary Concert Organization Festivals and the ISSMA State Show Choir and Jazz Finals.
More information on coronavirus 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.
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Governor Eric Holcomb Thursday also announced some additional steps the state will take to reduce the spread of COVID-19 in Indiana.
Thallemer noted that the World Health Organization called it a pandemic Wednesday. St. Joe County on Wednesday confirmed a case of COVID-19, and a case earlier this week was confirmed in Noble County.
Grace College in Winona Lake on Wednesday said that while no student or staff cases have been confirmed there, a student did get tested. She is at home and not on campus, according to Grace.
Grace has taken the precaution to cancel chapel, large group visits, overnight guests and its Silver Scholars Program for the foreseeable future.
Grace College President Dr. Bill Katip commented, “Our highest priority is to safeguard the health and well-being of our students and employees. We will continue to closely monitor coronavirus developments and make decisions accordingly, including the possibility of online instruction.”
“These cases are on our doorstep, and with private testing being initiated this past Monday, health officials expect that more cases will be confirmed,” Thallemer said Thursday.
Bob Weaver, Teresa Reed and Dr. William Remington from the county health department are “doing an outstanding job locally, educating our health care workers, first responders, schools and nursing home providers,” he said. “They are a critical source of information in our county to make local public health decisions based on facts and the science of epidemiology.”
Thallemer said the county commissioners are in constant contact with the health department, and the city is fully supportive of their work.
He reminded everyone to frequently wash their hands, keep a little extra distance from others, stay at home if they’re sick and call ahead if you need to see a doctor.
“What I’d also do is really ask you to get on the CDC coronavirus website, as well as the Indiana State Department of Health website, for the most up-to-date information. Those websites have provided a lot of information locally,” Thallemer said.
As he and the commissioners work with the health department, Thallemer said he fully believes the precautions taken locally and at all levels of government have been “superb.”
“I’m confident that by following instructions to minimize the spread of the virus, we will get through all of this,” he said.
What everyone is saying, Thallemer said he learned Wednesday, was that “this is changing quickly.” The information provided, cases, testing and what’s happening locally continues to evolve, he said. “Rest assured, that locally, the Kosciusko County Health Department is doing a magnificent job in working with local elected officials. As things change, we will all know at the same time,” he said.
As of noon Thursday, the state had 12 Hoosiers who have tested presumptively positive for COVID-19, according to the release from Holcomb’s office.
“This is a time when we must do all we can to reduce the spread of COVID-19, protect our most vulnerable populations and reduce their potential to acquire or spread this virus,” said Holcomb. “While some actions are drastic, now, not later, is the time to act.”
The actions Holcomb initiated Thursday include:
• Non-essential gatherings must be limited to no more than 250 people. Detailed guidance is posted on the ISDH website.
• School corporations will be provided with a 20-day waiver of the required 180 instructional days for use as needed for the remainder of the academic year. The waived days do not need to be used consecutively and can be leveraged as needed.
• Child care and adult day care facilities should institute social distancing and minimize large gatherings.
• Nursing facilities and hospitals should restrict and screen visitors.
• The Indiana Department of Correction has suspended visitation at all facilities as a precaution for the health and safety of IDOC staff and offenders.
• Individuals over 60 years of age or those with a known underlying health issue such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes or chronic respiratory disease should limit their public exposure.
• Those who run senior centers and congregate meal services should consider suspending congregate meals services and arrange for home delivery.
• Encourage businesses to utilize telework policies, if available.
Holcomb is also issuing guidance for state employee operations. The state will suspend all non-essential out-of-state and international travel for the next 45 days. The state is also providing employees with guidance about the use of leave and remote work options for limited durations while ensuring the delivery of essential state services.
“I fully expect there will be additional actions warranted in the coming days,” Holcomb said. “Just as we have since the beginning of the year, we are working with partners at all levels to secure all necessary resources for any escalation of this virus.”
Warsaw Community Schools announced that Kindergarten Round-Up for Thursday was canceled. In order to help stem the potential spread of the COVID-19 virus, WCS is taking preventative measures, according to a news release.
Resources and digital forms will be posted and shared with parents of incoming kindergarten students. More information will be posted on the WCS district website at warsawschools.org.
As per guidance released by Holcomb on non-essential gatherings at this time, Tippecanoe Valley School Corp. will be postponing the Valley Hometown Fund Alumni Game scheduled for today. Watch for a possible rescheduled date.
Also Thursday, REAL Services of Kosciusko County announced they were suspending all non-essential services.
The 2020 Community Quiz Bowl scheduled for Tuesday has been postponed due to the concerns surrounding the COVID-19 (coronavirus) outbreak.
The Warsaw Education Foundation Board of Directors made the decision Thursday to postpone. The Foundation plans to re-evaluate the situation after Warsaw Community Schools spring break April 6-10 and announce a rescheduled date for the 2020 Community Quiz Bowl. Visit the foundation’s website and Facebook page for updates.
The Indiana State School Music Association was scheduled to sponsor student music festivals in the next few weeks with over 35,000 students from over 300 schools participating at more than 30 different school facilities throughout the state. After consultation with the ISDH, it has been decided by the ISSMA Executive Committee that to help protect students, school, and communities from the spread of the COVID-19/Coronavirus, all ISSMA sponsored music events will be cancelled through April 11. This would include all Junior/Middle/Elementary Concert Organization Festivals and the ISSMA State Show Choir and Jazz Finals.
More information on coronavirus 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.
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