Local officials are stepping up efforts to ensure a coordinated response to any potential outbreak of the new strain of coronavirus in Bartholomew County as more cases of the illness continue to be detected around the world.
The coalition, which held its first meeting at Columbus City Hall on Friday morning, spans several city and county entities and other stakeholders to coordinate efforts to prepare for, plan, monitor and respond locally to the global outbreak of the virus, called COVID-19, which has infected over 83,000 people globally and killed 2,800 since being detected in China last year.
The coalition includes representatives from Columbus Regional Health, the city of Columbus mayor’s office, Bartholomew County Health Department, Bartholomew County Emergency Management, Bartholomew Consolidated School Corporation, and Cummins Inc., said CRH spokeswoman Kelsey DeClue.
Currently, 26 Indiana residents are being monitored for the illness, according to the Indiana State Department of Health. As of Friday afternoon, nobody in Indiana had tested positive for the disease.
Local officials confirmed on Friday that there are no suspected or confirmed cases of the illness being monitored in Bartholomew County.
“We met this morning to make sure all of our efforts are coordinated,” DeClue said. “It’s about awareness, how we are cross-communicating with each other and cross-educating the community and keeping everyone informed and aware. Right now, we need to remain calm. It’s not in Indiana. It’s not local.”
For more on this story, see Saturday’s Republic.
