2nd Case of COVID-19 In Clinton County Reported
2nd Case of COVID-19 In Clinton County Reported
Remote Learning For Remainder of School Year, Indiana K-12 School Buildings To Remain Closed
In an afternoon press conference Indiana Governor Eric Holcomb and Dr. Jennifer McCormick, Indiana State Superintendent of Public Instruction, announced that K-12 schools will remain closed for the remainder of the school year and students will complete this school year via remote learning.
Easter Services Requested To Be Held Virtually
The following is a letter for Clinton County Health Officer, Dr. Stephen Tharp, regarding Easter services.
Dear Clinton County Residents & Pastoral Associates:
Based upon inquiries about an alternative Easter Sunday church service for our community, I have spent time considering the acceptability of a service where participants would remain in their private vehicles, with less than ten individuals in each car.
I have grave concerns regarding such an event. The only effective measure we have found to limit the spread of COVID-19 is restricting person to person contacts. Epidemiologic information indicates that this virus is very contagious and has a much higher incidence of death and severe illness than more familiar infections such as influenza. Just in the past two days our National Government has acknowledged that we must not just maintain but increase our compliance with limiting exposure to COVID-19.
Many religious leaders including the Methodist Council of Bishops and the Pope have endorsed canceling in person religious services and offered alternative methods for performing Sacraments
Governor Holcomb has given us an outline to protect our health by limiting exposure. We are just beginning a dramatic increase in infections and our best predictions are that we may be at a peak around Easter. It will be even more important by then to maintain our isolation. I am reminded of the first Passover. We are called upon to follow the directions that are most likely to keep us safe. In a time of great danger, the Hebrew’s were promised deliverance from deadly consequences if they carefully followed the rules given to them by a Higher Authority, rules they did not completely understand but protected them from dire effects. We know that isolation and following the rules now will save lives. We should not ignore the tools we do have if it may save even one tragic outcome.
I hereby request that you limit religious gatherings to virtual experiences and avoid any in-person assemblies.
Thank you for your consideration,
Sincerely,
Stephen D. Tharp, M.D.
Clinton County Health Officer
NHK Seating Frankfort Extends Closure Due to SIA Shutdown, Return Date Set For April 20
NHK Seating Frankfort announced today, Wednesday, April 1, 2020, they would extend its current closure in response to SIA’s own plant shutdown through April 17. NHK associates are scheduled to return to work on April 20, 2020.
Clinton County EMA Asking For Help
Clinton County EMA is asking for assistance from any manufacturer who is willing to help with the shortage of PPE masks for our public safety personnel. If your facility can donate, once EMA gets additional supplies, they will be replaced back to the manufacturer. In order to donate, please contact the Clinton County Call Center provider line at 765-652-6502 to make arrangements for someone to pick them up.
Clinton County is also asking the public to assist in sewing and making masks to assist in shortages. The guidelines are based on what the CDC recommends. Below are the requirements for the hand-sewn masks:
How to Sew a Face Mask
Please follow these guidelines to ensure the masks are CDC-compliant and acceptable alternatives for us to use.
Supplies:
Cotton fabric – please make sure it is 100% cotton
Please do not use flannel
• Use a different color/pattern so that staff can distinguish between the inside and outside of the mask.
• Please make sure that any design is placed horizontally
• Elastic or elastic cord: 1/8 inch or ¼ inch
• Standard pipe cleaners
(Please remember that both men and women in a variety of roles will be wearing/using these masks when choosing fabrics)
Directions:
Two sizes available: Adult or Child: for adult masks, pay attention to ear loops for a difference between sizing for men and women
For MEN’S ADULT MASK: Cut the elastic 7 inches long and tie a knot at each end
For WOMEN’S ADULT MASK: Cut the elastic 6.5 inches long and tie a knot at each end
For CHILDREN’S MASK: Cut the elastic 6 inches long and tie a knot at each end
• DO NOT knot the ends of the flat piece
1. Cut two difference pieces of fabric for each mask -Cut 9×6 (Adult men and women) or 7.5×5(Child)
2. With right sides together, sew ¼” seam along the top edge. Sew again ½” below this seam to make a casing for a pipe cleaner.
3. Insert pipe cleaner that has been folded in half into casing. This allows the mask to fit snuggly around the nose.
• Do not worry if you sew over the pipe cleaner; it will not break your needle
4. Starting at the center of the bottom edge, sew to the first corner, stop.
Sew the elastic with the edge out into the corner. A few stitches forward and back will hold this.
5. Sew to the next corner, stop. Bring the other end of the same elastic to the corner and sew a few stitches forward and back.
6. Now sew across that top of the mask to the next corner. Again, put an elastic with the edge out.
7. Sew to the next corner and sew in the other end of the same elastic.
8. Sew across the bottom, leaving about 1.5-2 inches open. Stop, cut the thread.
Turn inside out
9. Pin 3 tucks on each side of the mask. Make sure the tucks are the same direction.
10. Sew around the edge of the mask twice
For completed masks:
• Please put your finished masks in clear, Ziplog bags
• Please separate the masks for men, women and children based on sizing and ear loop elastic differences
• Call ahead to the Clinton County Call Center provider line at 765-652-6502 between 10am-12pm and 4pm-6pm to make arrangements to have someone pick them up.
Two COVID-19 Myths Making Rounds Locally, Local Call Center Opens To Help Answer Public Questions Re: COVID-19 Pandemic
Two myths being shared and talked about regarding COVID-19 are being circulated locally and the World Health Organization (WHO) addresses both as false.
One, if when you wake in the morning and can hold your breath for 10-seconds without coughing, then you are COVID-19 free. According to WHO this is false, a myth.
Second, with the turning of the season to becoming warmer and humid then COVID-19 should not spread. WHO states that it is false, a myth.
In addition to turning to the WHO, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the Indiana State Department of Health for timely information, there is now a local call center to address your questions and concerns.
The Clinton County Health Department in partnership with Healthy Communities of Clinton County Coalition began operations of a county-wide call center for residents with general questions concerning the COVID-19 pandemic, the status of county testing, what to do if you have symptoms or are ill, and many other areas of assistance. This call center will be funded by the Clinton County Government and coordinated with the Clinton County Emergency Management Agency and 911.
The Public can call into the call center using 765-652-6501.
Healthcare providers with general questions on testing/criteria can call the center dialing 765-652-6502.
This center will be staffed by Community Health Staff and county/nursing volunteers and all calls will be taken in the order they are received. Information will be updated daily/weekly as needed and the center may refer callers to additional services when appropriate or available.
The initial hours of operation are 10 AM- 12 noon and again from 4 PM – 6 PM each day Monday – Friday until the situation dictates a change or until further notice. Managers will evaluate the need for additional hours of operation based on call volume.
Note: During hours the call center is not staffed, general questions from the public or healthcare provider inquiries about COVID-19 may also be directed to the ISDH COVID-19 Call Center at the toll-free number 877-826-0011 (available 24/7)
282 New Positive Cases Of COVID-19 Makes It 1,514 Hoosiers Now Diagnosed, 32 Deaths
The Clinton County Health Department previously reported 1 case of COVID-19 in Clinton County on Thursday, March 26, 2020.
The Indiana State Department of Health (ISDH) today, Sunday, March 29, 2020, reported 1 new death and 282 new positive cases of COVID-19, bringing to 1,514 the number of Hoosiers diagnosed through ISDH, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and private laboratories. Thirty-two Hoosiers have now died.
A total of 9,830 tests have been reported to ISDH to date, up from 8,407 on Saturday.
Cases and Deaths by County of Residence
Adams
Cases: 1
Deaths: 0
Allen
Cases: 26
Deaths: 1
Bartholomew
Cases: 10
Deaths: 0
Boone
Cases: 13
Deaths: 0
Brown
Cases: 3
Deaths: 0
Carroll
Cases: 1
Deaths: 0
Clark
Cases: 20
Deaths: 0
Clay
Cases: 1
Deaths: 0
Clinton
Cases: 1
Deaths: 0
Crawford
Cases: 1
Deaths: 0
Dearborn
Cases: 10
Deaths: 1
Decatur
Cases: 40
Deaths: 0
DeKalb
Cases: 1
Deaths: 0
Delaware
Cases: 14
Deaths: 1
Dubois
Cases: 2
Deaths: 0
Elkhart
Cases: 12
Deaths: 0
Fayette
Cases: 5
Deaths: 1
Floyd
Cases: 14
Deaths: 0
Fountain
Cases: 1
Deaths: 0
Franklin
Cases: 26
Deaths: 3
Fulton
Cases: 1
Deaths: 0
Gibson
Cases: 4
Deaths: 0
Grant
Cases: 7
Deaths: 0
Greene
Cases: 1
Deaths: 0
Hamilton
Cases: 83
Deaths: 0
Hancock
Cases: 22
Deaths: 1
Harrison
Cases: 14
Deaths: 0
Hendricks
Cases: 48
Deaths: 1
Henry
Cases: 2
Deaths: 0
Howard
Cases: 12
Deaths: 1
Huntington
Cases: 1
Deaths: 0
Jackson
Cases: 7
Deaths: 0
Jasper
Cases: 6
Deaths: 1
Jennings
Cases: 13
Deaths: 0
Johnson
Cases: 71
Deaths: 3
Knox
Cases: 2
Deaths: 0
Kosciusko
Cases: 3
Deaths: 0
LaGrange
Cases: 2
Deaths: 0
Lake
Cases: 85
Deaths: 1
LaPorte
Cases: 6
Deaths: 0
Lawrence
Cases: 8
Deaths: 0
Madison
Cases: 18
Deaths: 1
Marion
Cases: 676
Deaths: 10
Marshall
Cases: 3
Deaths: 0
Miami
Cases: 1
Deaths: 0
Monroe
Cases: 22
Deaths: 0
Montgomery
Cases: 5
Deaths: 0
Morgan
Cases: 20
Deaths: 1
Newton
Cases: 1
Deaths: 0
Noble
Cases: 2
Deaths: 0
Ohio
Cases: 1
Deaths: 0
Orange
Cases: 1
Deaths: 0
Owen
Cases: 9
Deaths: 0
Porter
Cases: 14
Deaths: 0
Posey
Cases: 3
Deaths: 0
Putnam
Cases: 5
Deaths: 1
Randolph
Cases: 1
Deaths: 0
Ripley
Cases: 19
Deaths: 0
Rush
Cases: 2
Deaths: 0
Scott
Cases: 1
Deaths: 1
Shelby
Cases: 12
Deaths: 0
St Joseph
Cases: 32
Deaths: 1
Starke
Cases: 1
Deaths: 0
Steuben
Cases: 1
Deaths: 0
Sullivan
Cases: 1
Deaths: 0
Switzerland
Cases: 3
Deaths: 0
Tippecanoe
Cases: 11
Deaths: 1
Tipton
Cases: 4
Deaths: 0
Vander.
Cases: 17
Deaths: 0
Verm.
Cases: 1
Deaths: 0
Vigo
Cases: 7
Deaths: 1
Wabash
Cases: 1
Deaths: 0
Warren
Cases: 2
Deaths: 0
Warrick
Cases: 8
Deaths: 0
Washington
Cases: 5
Deaths: 0
Wayne
Cases: 1
Deaths: 0
Wells
Cases: 1
Deaths: 0
White
Cases: 1
Deaths: 0
Whitley
Cases: 1
Deaths: 0
“To Give A 100% Accurate Count I Couldn’t”, Hospitals & Commerical Labs Are Not Required To Report Negative Test Results
With each passing day, the Indiana State Department of Health (ISDH) updates the COVID-19 data and map. And, with each passing day residents of Clinton County ask, “how many people in Clinton County have been tested?”
Clinton County Today (CCT) echos the same question and turned to the Clinton County Health Department (CCHD) to get answers. CCT spoke with Clinton County Public Health Nurse Dana Longenecker of CCHD on Friday, March 27, 2020. The conversation took place after directing a written question asking, “[CCT is] inquiring if the Clinton County Health Department could provide the total number of residents of Clinton County that have been tested for COVID-19.”
“I saw your question and it is valid question,” said Nurse Longenecker. “To explain why that’s complicated, because the commercial testing, like done at IU Health, they do not have to report numbers to me.”
Only COVID-19 tests resulting in a positive result are reported by commercial labs.
“Unfortunately, the only time they have to report to me is when it is a positive,” said Nurse Longenecker.
“So there could be 300 tests and I don’t know about that unless it is a positive. So it does get complicated.”
“To give a 100% accurate count I couldn’t. Through the state, I would say roughly now 30 to 40 in our county [have been tested] through the state.”
Nurse Longenecker is working with both IU Health Frankfort and St. Elizabeth to develop methods allowing for CCHD to have better knowledge of the tests being completed at the respective hospitals.
“Some entities are working with me to try and keep me up to date as best as they can so we can stay in communication with my community as best as I can.”
“St. Elizabeth has been working with me, giving me some encrypted information and trying to keep me up to date with my Clinton County residents. With them, I can see some of their testing if they go through the state or a different route, but if they use a commercial lab I don’t see those numbers either.”
“But again, I want to reiterate, of course I know about any positive. So it doesn’t matter if it is a Clinton County resident that gets tested, the person gets tested in Ohio, it has to get reported to me and the state.”
CCT asked Nurse Longenecker for clarification in regard to ISDH’s daily update; so, the daily update put out by ISDH only reflects those tested by ISDH and positive cases reflect both state and private testing?
“100 percent,” said Nurse Longenecker. “That is what the state has tested, what you are seeing on those reports. Now if there is a positive through a commercially available test, like ours was done through a commercially available test that was a positive – obviously, that has been reported on that map. So if it is positive they will account for that, but otherwise, you are correct.”
“Forty-thousand patients in Indiana could have been tested by now, those numbers are not going to be reflected, unfortunately.”
251 New Positive Cases Of COVID-19 Makes It 1,232 Hoosiers Now Diagnosed, 31 Deaths
The Clinton County Health Department previously reported 1 case of COVID-19 in Clinton County on Thursday, March 26, 2020.
The Indiana State Department of Health (ISDH) today, Saturday, March 28, 2020, reported 7 new deaths and 251 new positive cases of COVID-19, bringing to 1,232 the number of Hoosiers diagnosed through ISDH, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and private laboratories. Thirty-one Hoosiers have now died.
A total of 8,407 tests have been reported to ISDH to date, up from 6,639 on Friday.
Cases and Deaths by County of Residence
Adams
Cases: 1
Deaths: 0
Allen
Cases: 23
Deaths: 1
Bartholomew
Cases: 7
Deaths: 0
Boone
Cases: 8
Deaths: 0
Brown
Cases: 2
Deaths: 0
Carroll
Cases: 1
Deaths: 0
Clark
Cases: 18
Deaths: 0
Clinton
Cases: 1
Deaths: 0
Crawford
Cases: 1
Deaths: 0
Dearborn
Cases: 8
Deaths: 1
Decatur
Cases: 30
Deaths: 0
DeKalb
Cases: 1
Deaths: 0
Delaware
Cases: 8
Deaths: 1
Dubois
Cases: 1
Deaths: 0
Elkhart
Cases: 11
Deaths: 0
Fayette
Cases: 4
Deaths: 1
Floyd
Cases: 13
Deaths: 0
Fountain
Cases: 1
Deaths: 0
Franklin
Cases: 23
Deaths: 2
Fulton
Cases: 1
Deaths: 0
Gibson
Cases: 4
Deaths: 0
Grant
Cases: 5
Deaths: 0
Hamilton
Cases: 64
Deaths: 0
Hancock
Cases: 19
Deaths: 1
Harrison
Cases: 7
Deaths: 0
Hendricks
Cases: 36
Deaths: 2
Henry
Cases: 1
Deaths: 0
Howard
Cases: 9
Deaths: 1
Huntington
Cases: 1
Deaths: 0
Jackson
Cases: 7
Deaths: 0
Jasper
Cases: 5
Deaths: 1
Jennings
Cases: 10
Deaths: 0
Johnson
Cases: 52
Deaths: 3
Kosciusko
Cases: 2
Deaths: 0
LaGrange
Cases: 2
Deaths: 0
Lake
Cases: 68
Deaths: 1
LaPorte
Cases: 4
Deaths: 0
Lawrence
Cases: 4
Deaths: 0
Madison
Cases: 12
Deaths: 1
Marion
Cases: 584
Deaths: 10
Marshall
Cases: 3
Deaths: 0
Miami
Cases: 1
Deaths: 0
Monroe
Cases: 16
Deaths: 0
Montgomery
Cases: 4
Deaths: 0
Morgan
Cases: 14
Deaths: 0
Newton
Cases: 1
Deaths: 0
Noble
Cases: 2
Deaths: 0
Ohio
Cases: 1
Deaths: 0
Orange
Cases: 1
Deaths: 0
Owen
Cases: 7
Deaths: 0
Porter
Cases: 9
Deaths: 0
Posey
Cases: 2
Deaths: 0
Putnam
Cases: 5
Deaths: 1
Randolph
Cases: 1
Deaths: 0
Ripley
Cases: 15
Deaths: 0
Rush
Cases: 2
Deaths: 0
Scott
Cases: 1
Deaths: 1
Shelby
Cases: 10
Deaths: 0
St Joseph
Cases: 31
Deaths: 1
Starke
Cases: 1
Deaths: 0
Sullivan
Cases: 1
Deaths: 0
Switzerland
Cases: 1
Deaths: 0
Tippecanoe
Cases: 11
Deaths: 1
Tipton
Cases: 2
Deaths: 0
Vander.
Cases: 10
Deaths: 0
Verm.
Cases: 1
Deaths: 0
Vigo
Cases: 4
Deaths: 1
Wabash
Cases: 1
Deaths: 0
Warren
Cases: 1
Deaths: 0
Warrick
Cases: 6
Deaths: 0
Washington
Cases: 4
Deaths: 0
Wayne
Cases: 1
Deaths: 0
Wells
Cases: 1
Deaths: 0
White
Cases: 1
Deaths: 0
Whitley
Cases: 1
Deaths: 0
City of Frankfort Working To Reduce Impact of COVID-19 On Our Community
The following is a message from Frankfort Mayor Judy Sheets regarding the steps being taken to address the impact of COVOD-19 in our community.
The City of Frankfort is working diligently with Clinton County officials, our health care partners, and first responders to protect public health and safety as the coronavirus spreads. We are working together to lower the risk of transmission and infection and reduce the impact on our community.
City officials and departments are closely following updates and guidance from federal and state officials concerning COVID-19. Please do your part by following the guidelines established by the CDC and state and local health departments. The more we follow the advice of these officials, the more we will slow the spread of this virus and make it possible for our health system to manage and control the epidemic.
Please do what you can to help our local small businesses. Many are offering gift certificates, online sales, take-out options, and delivery services. Please take advantage of these alternate ways to support our local small businesses if you can.
I understand the frequently changing decisions made at all levels of government to protect us can be confusing and stressful. The COVID-19 crisis requires flexibility and thorough, accurate information. We continue to update our website and social media daily to ensure we are providing you with verified, reliable information.
Plans are in place to conduct City Council, Board of Works, and other important meetings electronically. It’s important to me that the business of the City continue, and we set an example for how to carry on in these tough times.
The health and safety of all members of our community remain our priorities as we continue to develop and update plans to protect and support our citizens, our employees, and to ensure that regular city operations and services continue without interruption. In these unprecedented and uncertain times, remember that we are a community of prayer and resilience. We will get through this challenge by helping one another and by doing what is best for all concerned.