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Ascension St. Vincent Enhances Visitor Restrictions in North and South Regions

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Ascension St. Vincent has updated temporary visitor restrictions at hospitals in the North and South regions to reduce the spread of viral respiratory infections, including COVID-19. This is being done in alignment with the latest recommendations from public health authorities and city and state officials.

Given the unique circumstances related to COVID-19, the following restrictions reduce the risk of exposure for visitors, patients, caregivers, and associates and have been implemented at Ascension St. Vincent Anderson, Carmel, Clay, Dunn, Evansville, Fishers, Jennings, Kokomo, Mercy, Randolph, Salem, Warrick, and Williamsport.

Hospital entrances – All hospitals have limited hospital entry points.

One visitor per patient at a time

  • Age minimum – Visitors must be at least 18 years of age, unless they are an emancipated minor, the parent of a patient or other case-by-case exception.

  • Exceptions – Exceptions to visitor restrictions may be made on a case-by-case basis. In particular, compassionate exceptions will be made.

Screening for visitors – All visitors will be screened for the following symptoms:

  • Fever greater than 100.0 F

  • Cough

  • Difficulty breathing

If the visitor screen is negative, the visitation may proceed provided the visitor’s movement within the hospital is limited to the patient’s room.

Ascension St. Vincent appreciates the cooperation of the communities we are privileged to serve.

SBA ECONOMIC INJURY DISASTER LOANS NOW OPEN FOR INDIANA SMALL BUSINESSES

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This morning US Small Business Administration Disaster Loans became available to businesses in our region. Information on eligibility, useful forms, and step by step instructions for completing the application are available at the Southwest Indiana Chamber website. If applications online are down, downloadable resources are available on our site. Businesses are encouraged to consult their financial and legal advisors and to contact the Southwest Indiana Chamber and our partners for additional assistance at 812-425-8147.

Information on employment matters — employment opportunities and other services available to support our region’s business community are also posted on the Chamber site. In particular, we encourage employers and employees facing layoff to take advantage of the two live webinars hosted by the Indiana Department of Workforce Development (DWD for Hoosiers impacted by the COVID-19 crisis. The 30-minute live programs will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Tuesday, March 24, and at 3 p.m. on Wednesday, March 25.

The program will cover unemployment eligibility requirements, the formula and amounts determined by Indiana State Statute for benefit amounts, frequently asked questions — and how to apply for benefits. To register click here.

Please encourage the public to visit www.swinchamber.com for daily updates on closings and cancellations, business operations resources, restaurant offerings, employment opportunities, and available local business services to help us all during this crisis.

 

 

Mobile Home Fire Results In Fatality Man Identified

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A 911 call in reference to a smoke coming from a northern Vanderburgh County mobile home leaves one resident deceased.

On Wednesday, March 18, 2020 at 7:02pm, the Vanderburgh County Sheriff’s Office, along with the McCutchanville, German Township, and Scott Township Fire Departments, responded to a residential structure fire in the 6100-Block of Moline Dr. Vanderburgh County Dispatch had received multiple 911 calls in reference to a mobile home with heavy smoke coming from it with the resident possibly still inside.

Upon arriving on scene, two deputies were approached by neighbors who believed the resident was possibly trapped inside. In an effort to preserve life, the deputies retrieved a door ram and forced entry into the mobile home, which had heavy smoke and visible flames coming from it. Unfortunately, both deputies were stopped by the heavy smoke and were unable to completely make entry or see or hear anyone inside.

Properly equipped firefighters arrived shortly thereafter and made entry into the home and located an unresponsive person. Firefighters removed the resident from the burning home and began providing life saving measures with AMR Paramedics. The resident was unable to be revived.

Firefighters continued fighting the fire until it was determined to be completely extinguished at 7:45pm.

The cause of the fire and circumstances surrounding it are currently being investigated by Investigators from the Vanderburgh County Sheriff’s Office, McCutchanville Fire Department, German Township Fire Department, the Indiana State Fire Marshal’s Office, and the Vanderburgh County Coroner’s Office.

The identity of the deceased will be released by the Vanderburgh County Coroner’s Office at a later time, pending notification of family members.

The victim fire on Moline Dr. in Vanderburgh County has been identified as Harvey B. Mussard, age 53, and a reported resident of the home. An autopsy is scheduled for today (19th) at 16:00 hrs.

Gov. Holcomb Takes More Actions to Protect Hoosiers During Public Emergency

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Schools, Economy, Unemployment Insurance Changes Announced

Governor Eric J. Holcomb took additional unprecedented actions today to protect and support Hoosiers during the COVID-19 outbreak by signing executive orders that extend the closure of schools, provide economic relief and protections for individuals and businesses, and expand unemployment insurance benefits for those impacted by job loss.

“Every day we learn more about how to tackle this monster. We are being thoughtful about how to approach every action we are taking in this national public health emergency and putting Hoosiers’ health and safety first,” said Gov. Holcomb.

Daily COVID-19 testing capacity in Indiana has expanded with the addition of a new partnership between the Indiana State Department of Health and Eli Lilly and Company, and at least one other entity has initiated testing this week. In the past 24 hours, about 200 tests have been completed.

“As we increase the number of tests analyzed each day, no one should be caught off guard that the number of positive cases will increase,” said Dr. Kris Box, state health commissioner. “This will help us know where community spread is occurring in Indiana and help us mobilize resources in affected areas.”

Here is a summary of the covered actions. The Executive Orders, which contain additional actions, will be found at this link: https://www.in.gov/gov/2384.htm

State of Emergency Extension

  • The Governor will extend the current state of emergency an additional 30 days when it expires on April 5.

K-12 schools

  • All K-12 public schools will remain closed until May 1. Non-public schools are also ordered closed. This date may be revised to extend through the end of the 2019-2020 school year if circumstances warrant.
  • All-state mandated assessments will be canceled for the current academic year. The governor has contacted U.S. Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos to share the state’s plan and also has asked the Superintendent of Public Instruction Dr. Jennifer McCormick to pursue any federal waivers needed to cancel the requirements for accountability, chronic absenteeism and state-mandated assessments.

Economy

  • The state of Indiana will align with the federal government to delay state income tax payments from April 15 to July 15. The U.S. Treasury extended the deadline to pay federal income tax by 90 days.
  • Penalties will be waived for 60 days for property tax paid after May 11. The state will work with counties that may experience cash flow stress because of the delay.
  • The state will not immediately move forward with using $300 million in reserves to pay for several capital projects approved in the just-concluded legislative session and instead maintain flexibility to utilize the funds as needed for relief efforts and to maintain current services. The state will consider using bonding authority to move forward with the just-approved capital projects.
  • Providers of essential utility services such as gas and electric, broadband, telecom, water and wastewater services are prohibited from discontinuing service to any customer during the public health emergency.
  • The state’s application to the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) was approved on Wednesday. This program provides targeted, low-interest loans of up to $2 million to help small businesses and nonprofits overcome the temporary loss of revenue as a result of coronavirus. See more atSBA.gov/Disaster.

 Unemployment Insurance Benefits

  • The state will interpret Indiana’s unemployment laws to the broadest extent possible to cover Hoosiers who are out of work because of COVID-19.
  • Benefits will be paid to individuals who file their initial unemployment claims late.
  • The Department of Workforce Development will allow individuals to continue to accrue unemployment eligibility if they take work leave because of COVID-19.
  • DWD will seek federal authorization to provide unemployment benefits for those who are not otherwise eligible for unemployment, such individuals who have recently started a job.
  • For employers, DWD will not assess certain experience rate penalties because of employees who receive unemployment benefits because of COVID-19.

Housing

  • No residential eviction proceedings or foreclosure actions may be initiated during the public health emergency. This does not relieve the individual of obligations to pay rent or mortgage payments.
  • All public housing authorities are requested to extend deadlines for housing assistance recipients and required documentation to show eligibility for housing programs.
  • The Indiana Department of Financial Institutions and Indiana Community Housing Development Authority are required to work with financial institutions to identify tools to help promote housing stability.

Social Services

  • Participants in the Healthy Indiana Plan (HIP) and the Children’s Health Insurance Program are not required to make premium payments.
  • Job search requirements are waived for those applying for Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF) benefits.
  • The Family and Social Services Administration will seek a federal waiver to extend renewals for existing Medicaid and HIP recipients.
  • Telehealth services for mental health, substance use disorder and prescribing for Medicaid covered services will be expanded.

Insurance

  • The commissioner of the state Department of Insurance will request that insurers institute a 60-day moratorium on policy cancellations for non-payment of premiums. This does not suspend a policyholder’s obligation to make payments.
  • The commissioner will ask health insurers to cover COVID-19 testing without requiring prior authorization.
  • The commissioner will request that health insurers not increase prices or coverage costs that involve medical care for COVID-19.

Bureau of Motor Vehicles

  • To limit the number of in-branch transactions, late fees will be waived for several driver’s licenses and identification card renewals, vehicle registrations, titles, and certain other transactions.
  • Other operational changes in branches are being instituted to provide for the safety of employees and customers in branches, such as spacing between terminals and limiting the number of customers in the lobby.

Veterans

  • Requirements have been relaxed for veterans to qualify for awards from the Military Family Relief Fund.
  • Awards in excess of $2,500 may be approved by the IDVA director during the public health emergency.

Health and Professional Licensin

  • Mental health professionals are permitted to practice via telemedicine.
  • Advance Practice Registered Nurses are allowed to provide services in multiple locations.
  • The state health commissioner may waive requirements of the nursing home certificate of need statute to respond to COVID-19 issues for long-term care facilities.

 

FOOTNOTE: More information may be found at the ISDH website at in.gov/coronavirus/ and the CDC website at https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html.

 

AG Curtis Hill warns of scams related to coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic

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Attorney General Curtis Hill today asked Hoosiers to be wary of scams as the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic sweeps across the globe. 

In times of crisis, Attorney General Hill said, scams become more prevalent. Scammers and fraudsters often attempt to take advantage of vulnerable consumers during difficult moments.

Attorney General Hill urged Hoosiers to remain vigilant during these hardships and to always be on the lookout for fraudulent activities.

“The unprecedented coronavirus pandemic has undoubtedly left many Hoosiers feeling worried, scared or uncertain about the world around them,” Attorney General Hill said. “Scammers capitalize on challenging times like this to prey on innocent consumers. Falling victim to a scam during this pandemic could have irreversible consequences.”

The Office of the Attorney General’s Consumer Protection Division is actively communicating with health departments, health clinics and retail outlets to stay on top of potential scams and concerns. Cyber scams involving emails or text messages related to the coronavirus have already been reported.

Attorney General Hill offered these tips to avoid phishing scams during the coronavirus pandemic:

  • Be on alert for communications with dangerous attachments or fraudulent links.
  • Treat any emails or texts with subject lines or information about coronavirus with caution.
  • Avoid clicking on links in unsolicited emails and be wary of email attachments.
  • Always verify the email addresses of those who send you emails.
  • Use trusted, legitimate government websites to obtain up-to-date information.
  • Don’t reveal personal or financial information via email or text message.
  • Verify the authenticity of a charity before donating money.

Attorney General Hill also asked Hoosiers to avoid fraudulent products that claim to test for, prevent or treat coronavirus. The Federal Trade Commission and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration have said there are currently no vaccines, pills, potions, lotions, lozenges or other prescription or over-the-counter products commercially available to treat or cure the virus.

“It’s a shame that in these already tough times, scammers are trying to make consumers’ lives even more difficult,” Attorney General Hill said. “But by exercising caution, you can avoid them.”

Check back regularly here for Office of the Attorney General consumer-related updates and alerts.

To submit a price-gouging complaint, the Office is encouraging Hoosiers to utilize the online consumer complaint form. You can find the form by going to www.indianaconsumer.com and clicking “File a Complaint.”

For up-to-date information about the coronavirus, please visit the Indiana State Department of Health website at https://www.in.gov/coronavirus/. You may also call the department 24/7 at 1-877-826-0011.

Vanderburgh County Current Warrants

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Vanderburgh County Current Warrants

DEACONESS CONFIRMS FIRST POSITIVE COVID-19 RESULTEVANSVILLE/HENDERSON –

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 Deaconess is confirming our first positive COVID-19 test result.

The patient was sent for curbside testing at Deaconess Midtown from one of our outpatient facilities in Henderson.

The patient has been contacted, and is doing well on home quarantine. We have also received several negative results in the past 12 hours. Both Indiana & Kentucky health departments have been notified.

MESSAGE OF HOPE AND COMPASSION FROM COUNTY COMMISSIONER BEN SHOULDERS

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LINK OF HOPE AND COMPASSION FROM COUNTY COMMISSIONER BEN SHOULDERS
This is an extraordinary time in our community. The health, wellness, and safety of our family, friends, neighbors, and co-workers are THE top priority.
This is also an opportunity for our true and deepest values to shine. Call and check on someone who might be lonely. Check on a loved one or help someone who might be in need of just a little assistance. Give it to a nonprofit if you can.
PLEASE support our local businesses NOW more than ever. Please do all you can to stay aware, safe and healthy during these challenging times.  Please practice social distancing and hygiene at all times.
We will weather this storm TOGETHER and our community will be even stronger be
Stay strong and God bless.
Ben
FOOTNOTE; ANYONE WHO HAS A SIMILAR MESSAGE OF HOPE AND COMPASSION PLEASE SEND IT TO CITY-COUNTY OBSERVER AND WE WILL POST IT WITHOUT EDITING.

Gov. Holcomb Announces Small Business Assistance in Response to COVID-19

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Hoosier Small Businesses Invited To Apply For Low-Interest Loans
From U.S. Small Business Administration

Governor Eric J. Holcomb today announced that Indiana small businesses are eligible for financial assistance under a disaster designation by the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA).

This declaration is in response to a formal request Gov. Holcomb submitted with the SBA on Tuesday, seeking assistance through the organization’s Economic Injury Disaster Loan program for small businesses impacted by the COVID-19 outbreak in Indiana.

“Small businesses play a critical role in driving Indiana’s economy forward, with more than 512,000 employing 1.2 million Hoosiers across the state,” Gov. Holcomb said. “These disaster loans will provide much needed financial support to small business owners who are weathering the impact of the coronavirus outbreak.”

Under the program, small businesses, small agricultural cooperatives and nonprofits across the state are eligible to apply for low-interest loans up to $2 million to help overcome the temporary loss of revenue due to the COVID-19 outbreak. These loans may be used to pay fixed debts, payroll, accounts payable and other bills incurred during this public health emergency. The loan interest rates for small businesses and nonprofits are 3.75% and 2.75%, respectively, with terms up to 30 years.

To qualify for disaster loans, applicants must demonstrate credit history, the ability to repay the loan, and proof of physical presence in Indiana and working capital losses. Additionally, the Indiana Small Business Development Center, which has 10 regional offices throughout the state, will provide free business advising and application assistance for small businesses impacted by the COVID-19 outbreak.

To apply for loans or receive more information about the Economic Injury Disaster Loan program, visit SBA.gov/Disaster. Contact 1-800-659-2955 or disastercustomerservice@sba.gov with additional questions. The deadline to apply for the disaster loans is Dec. 18, 2020.

 

PRESIDENT OF DEACONESS HEALTH SYSTEM ISSUES DIRE WARNING ABOUT CORONA VIRUS ON HIS FACEBOOK PAGE

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My friends, we are not taking this threat to our lives and lives of our loved ones seriously enough! Ultimately, healthcare workers will be on the front lines and will pay the price for our failure to heed the warnings and by then it will be too late.

Reports from physician colleagues in Italy and France are dire and we are a couple of weeks behind them on the same path!

South Korea is fairing better because they are appropriately afraid due to their experience with MERS CoV in 2015, a much less contagious Corona Virus.  They have taken bold action early to minimize human contact and opportunities to spread the disease and as a  result, their ICUs are not overflowing with the critically ill and dying.

If we don’t act now by staying home, keeping our kids home, keeping our distance from everyone, and reducing the opportunity for this highly contagious and lethal virus to spread, we will certainly wish we had.  This is MUCH worse than the flu!  If you are in the same space as someone shedding this virus without necessary Personal Protective Equipment, YOU WILL LIKELY CATCH IT!  And it appears to be around 1% lethal!  And while older folks and those with chronic conditions are at the greatest risk, healthy people in their 30″s have also died.  Folks that’s 1 in 100, 10 in 1000, 100 in 10,000 DEAD!  YOU DON’T WANT THOSE ODDS!!!

People you love will suffer and die if we don’t stop the spread.  Hopefully, it isn’t too late.  Follow the pleas of those who know how bad this can be and those who are experiencing it right now this can be and those might be able to keep this thing from spreading exponentially and I will happily be called the boy who cried wolf.  That’s the irony, success will make those who sounded the alarm seem like the fools.

FOOTNOTE: This message was taken from Dr. James Porter, President of Deaconess Health System Facebook post and was sent to us by several of our readers.  We reported this message with editing.

 

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