COLUMBUS, Ind. — The chairwoman of the Bartholomew County Republican Party was conspicuously missing from Indiana Gov. Eric Holcomb’s visit to Columbus on Monday, as well as election day activities.
That is because Barbara Hackman, 64, placed herself in self-isolation on Oct. 24 after testing positive for COVID-19, she said.
Also serving as the Bartholomew County Treasurer, Hackman said all employees of her office also had to self-isolate for 10 days after she tested positive. However, the office has been closed to the public except by appointments for several months, and Hackman said she was still able to do her work either on her home laptop computer or by telephone.
The county treasurer said she believes she caught the virus from someone who was asymptomatic, and that she did not display any signs of the virus until after a family fishing trip. When the symptoms outlined by Hackman included a low grade fever, chills, aches and a cough, the GOP chairwoman said all symptoms have been “very, very mild.” As of Tuesday, the only symptoms remaining were a cough, as well as a loss of taste and smell, Hackman said.
After speaking with medical professionals, as well as Amanda Organist, director of nursing at the Bartholomew County Health Department, Hackman said her prognosis at this time calls for a quick recovery without major complications. Hackman said she hopes to be resume all her responsibilities on Friday.
