Bartholomew County health officials say they expect an increase in local cases of COVID-19 and are urging the public to take the pandemic seriously.
On Sunday, the Indiana State Department of Health confirmed four new cases of COVID-19 in Bartholomew County, increasing the local total to five.
Local health officials, however, “expect that number to start increasing because we are fully aware it is present and spreading in our community,” said Dr. Brian Niedbalski, county health officer.
Local health officials are investigating how the four individuals may have been exposed to the virus and will not comment until the investigation is complete, Niedbalski said.
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Three out of the four individuals have been admitted to Columbus Regional Hospital, where they are in stable condition, said CRH spokeswoman Kelsey DeClue.
The county is following state and federal guidelines for notifying those who might have had community contact with the individuals.
The first local case of COVID-19, which was reported on March 16, is believed to have been acquired through community spread, as the patient did not have travel history or a clinical contact link, county health officials said. That patient has recovered and has been released from Columbus Regional Hospital, DeClue said.
“These increased numbers reinforce the fact that COVID-19 is present in our county,” Niedbalski said. “This is the reason that we should be following the guidelines for isolation at home except for necessary needs outside the home. We should be practicing appropriate social distancing. Individuals should be quarantining themselves for 14 days if they had a close exposure to a COVID-19 patient, or recent travel to an area with a high number of cases reported. Residents who have returned from spring break vacations to beaches should strongly consider isolating themselves for 14 days due to the higher risk of multiple contacts.”
Local health officials are advising individuals with concerns about symptoms are urged to call the health system’s Triage Resource Call Center, a phone resource line launched by CRH last week to handle calls from residents with questions and concerns about exposure or symptoms associated with COVID-19, CRH officials said. The line, at 812-379-4449, is receiving 400 to 500 calls per day, on average, DeClue said.
Some individuals are being directed by the triage phone line to go to PromptMed for testing and treatment for urgent respiratory issues, DeClue said.
However, only patients who have received specific instructions from the triage line can go to PromptMed at this time, DeClue said, adding that individuals who show up unannounced will be advised to call the triage line.
“It is not a walk-in clinic,” DeClue said.
DeClue said CRH is urging patients to contact WellConnect at 812-376-5136 or their physician’s office if they would like to schedule a doctor’s appointment.
Monday, Gov. Eric Holcomb ordered Indiana residents to stay at home and refrain from non-essential travel from Wednesday until April 7.
Niedbalski is urging Bartholomew County residents to practice proper social distancing, which he said is often not being practiced at local grocery stores.
Social distancing is a set of practices aimed at reducing everyone’s potential exposure to the virus by avoiding public places as much as possible and maintaining 6 feet of distance between people, according to the Indiana State Department of Health.
“Social distancing still needs to be reinforced. Walk into any grocery store and you will see a prime example of incorrect social distancing. Everyone needs to take this seriously,” Niedbalski said.
At Monday’s Bartholomew County commissioners meeting, Chairman Carl Lienhoop said county COVID19 Task Force members are frustrated that residents aren’t taking social distancing seriously.
Lienhoop admits the current restrictions don’t address every situation, and “there will be violations,” Lienhoop said.
For example, if two shoppers pass each other in the aisle of a supermarket, the recommended six-feet of social distancing isn’t being strictly observed, Lienhoop said.
And since we no longer live in a self-sufficient society like Hoosiers did 150 years ago, it is getting increasingly difficult to determine what are essential and what are non-essential services, the commissioner’s chairman said.
“If I have a pipe break, I need to go to the hardware store and get something to fix it,” Lienhoop said. “If I have a flat tire, I need to get to (an automotive tire shop) to get it fixed.”
But while the restrictions may not be perfect, the commissioner stressed all Bartholomew County residents need to be cognizant of the need for social distancing at all times.
While many college students have come home from their spring break travels, Lienhoop said their return should not significantly increase the spread of the disease, as long as the students practice social distancing with all persons, including family members in their own homes.
Lienhoop also said many residents are asking county officials to make public the names of workplaces or schools where COVID-19 patients worked or studied.
But those details have not even been released to city and county officials, Commissioner Larry Kleinhenz said.
“I do know two individuals who have tested positive, but it’s only because I know them personally,” Kleinhenz said. “This is not public information.”
“I don’t think anyone is holding back information,’ Lienhoop said. “But we are still trying to decide what is appropriate (to release).”
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Local residents with concerns are urged to call the health system’s Triage Resource Call Center, a phone resource line launched by CRH last week to handle calls from residents with questions and concerns about exposure or symptoms associated with COVID-19, CRH officials said.
The phone resource line can be contacted at 812-379-4449 available seven days a week, and is staffed by registered nurses who will offer screening questions and potentially recommend a course of action for patients.
Visit crh.org/news/2020/03/16/coronavirus-update-what-you-need-to-know for more information.
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For more information about COVID-19, including a list of frequently asked questions, visit in.gov/coronavirus.
Visit the Indiana State Department of Health in.gov/isdh/ or follow us on Twitter at @StateHealthIN and on Facebook at facebook.com/StateHealthIN.
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Federal officials are scrambling to broaden testing for the coronavirus after one of the government’s top health officials called the initial testing effort “a failing” and health care professionals, politicians and patients across the country complained about lack of access to testing, according to The Associated Press.
CRH officials acknowledged last week that there is a “shortage of testing supplies” and said relatively healthy people with a low fever and cough and are not that sick would likely be advised to stay at home and not seek medical attention.
However, people with symptoms such as shortness of breath or risk factors such as being older than 60 and/or having a compromised immune system should seek medical care and let their physician decide if a test will help direct their care.
Anyone with concerns are urged to call the health system’s Triage Resource Call Center, a phone resource line launched by CRH last week to handle calls from residents with questions and concerns about exposure or symptoms associated with COVID-19.
The phone line is open daily from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. and is staffed by registered nurses who will offer screening questions and potentially recommend a course of action for patients, said CRH spokeswoman Kelsey DeClue.
The phone resource line can be contacted at 812-379-4449.
Visit crh.org/news/2020/03/16/coronavirus-update-what-you-need-to-know for more information.
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