Potpourri: Don’t Forget Daylight Saving Time Sunday; Cops Wanted
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SPRING FORWARD – A good reminder that spring is approaching is Daylight Saving Time.
At 2 a.m. tomorrow – Sunday, March 8 – don’t forget to set your clock ahead an hour, effectively losing an hour of sleep, or whatever it is that you do at that time of night.
While you’re changing your clocks, it’s also a good time to check the batteries in your smoke detectors.
Speaking of spring, the season begins March 19.
COPS NEEDED – During the Kosciusko County commissioners meeting Tuesday, Sheriff Kyle Dukes reported the Kosciusko County Sheriff’s Office is hiring for a deputy.
“The reality of Kosciusko County, where there is multiple police agencies, we’re all hiring. And the pool within our county is very slim,” Dukes said.
Last time the KCSO was hiring, a video was made and posted on Facebook.
This time, Dukes said they reached out to websites in the United States that post openings in law enforcement. “This time we brought in 40 applications. Eight of those already had police academy. We had one gentleman from New York drive down for an interview. We had one gentleman from South Carolina. So we’ll see where this goes,” Dukes said.
He noted that along with the KCSO hiring, police departments from Warsaw, Syracuse and Pierceton also were recently hiring or are hiring.
Commissioner Bob Conley commented, with a laugh, “I’m surprised you didn’t get like 500 from Chicago. They’re moving down here in droves. People are leaving Chicago and coming to this area.”
POLITICIANS ON CORONAVIRUS – With tens of thousands infected and over 3,200 dead, the coronavirus has everyone talking.
While some people think it’s getting too much media attention, others believe you can’t report enough about a panemic that’s now in countries from China to Italy to the U.S.
After the Indiana State Department of Health announced the first case of the virus in Indiana – Indianapolis – elected officials released statements about it.
Rep. Jim Banks (IN-03) released the following statement:
“The Indiana Department of Health confirmed an adult male in Indianapolis who recently traveled to Boston has tested positive for coronavirus. He is now in self-isolation.
“My office is in contact with the Centers for Disease and Control, Health and Human Services, the office of Governor Holcomb, the Indiana Department of Health and local officials as we monitor this situation. Both of my offices in Washington and Fort Wayne stand ready to assist any constituents with questions or concerns.
“President Trump signed bipartisan legislation this morning to ensure Indiana and our whole nation have the resources to respond to the coronavirus outbreak. Nearly $1 billion of the funding Congress passed will go to state and local health departments.
“Health experts advise that there is no need to panic. But they do advise taking normal health precautions including washing hands and not touching your face.”
Banks (IN-03) updated his website (banks.house.gov) to include helpful resources related to the coronavirus. Those resources can be found at banks.house.gov/covid-19 and easily found on the homepage.
U.S. Rep. Jackie Walorski (R-Ind.) released the following statement:
“The first case of coronavirus in Indiana is something our public health authorities have been preparing for, and I’m confident they are doing everything possible to keep Hoosiers healthy and safe. Fortunately, because the patient and health care providers did everything right, the health risk in our communities remains low. I have been in contact with numerous state and local officials and will continue working to ensure they have the resources and information they need to fight coronavirus.
“I encourage all Hoosiers to continue taking simple but important precautions: wash your hands frequently, avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth, and stay home if you are sick.”
U.S. Senator Todd Young (R-Ind.) released the following statement:
“As of this morning, the Indiana State Department of Health (ISDH) has confirmed the first Hoosier case of coronavirus. Under the leadership of Governor Holcomb, the state, in coordination with our medical community, was prepared and ready to respond. To further help our state and local governments in the days to come, I voted to pass $7.7 billion in emergency supplemental funding which has now been signed into law. I urge Hoosiers to continue following ISDH’s guidance to prevent the transmission of coronavirus, including washing your hands and staying at home if sick. I will continue to work closely with our state and local officials as the situation unfolds.”
Goshen Hospital implemented visitor restrictions due to COVID-19 precautions. The temporary policy goes into effect today.
“Patient safety is of utmost importance to us. While we do not have confirmed cases of COVID-19 locally, we will have these restrictions in place until we see a significant decrease in the national outbreak,” said Dr. Daniel Nafziger, Chief Medical Officer, Goshen Hospital.
The following temporary restrictions are in place:
Visitors under 18 years of age will not be allowed to visit.
Patients will be limited to two adult visitors at a time – healthy only.
Total visitor numbers may be limited for patients in isolation.
Visitors will not be allowed if they feel ill or have flu-like symptoms, such as fever, cough, chills or muscle aches.
Healthy visitors will be asked to wash their hands and use hand sanitizer often while in the building.
Patients with flu-like symptoms will be asked to wear an isolation mask until they are actually admitted to the hospital.
