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INDIANAPOLIS – Gov. Eric J. Holcomb, the Indiana State Department of Health and other state leaders will host a virtual media briefing in the Governor’s Office to provide updates on COVID-19 and its impact on Indiana.
WHO:Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Gov. Holcomb
State Health Commissioner Kristina Box, M.D., FACOG
WHEN:Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 2:30 p.m. ET, Friday, April 3
Media RSVP
Please register HERE by 1 p.m. ET Friday, April 3. Late requests will not be accepted. One confirmation will be sent per media outlet. If you are confirmed to attend the event, you will receive additional logistics in a separate email, including details on an opportunity to test the system at 11:15 a.m. today.
Logistical questions can be directed to agray@gov.in.gov.
Media outlets that wish to broadcast the press conference live are encouraged to use the high quality livestream. The livestream is also available to the public. Direct Link:Â https://livestream.com/accounts/18256195/events/9054752/player?width=960&height=540&enableInfoAndActivity=true&defaultDrawer=feed&autoPlay=true&mute=false
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INDIANAPOLIS—The Indiana Family and Social Services Administration announced today that more than 152,000 Indiana households will receive additional Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits when April distributions begin this Sunday. The additional funds are intended to help Hoosiers obtain food and support for their families while Indiana responds to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The federal Families First Coronavirus Response Act gives states the option to provide SNAP households with the maximum SNAP allotment, which is based on household size. SNAP households which are not currently receiving the maximum allotment will receive additional benefits which bring their allotment amount to the maximum. Households already receiving the maximum benefit will not receive additional benefits.
Maximum amounts per household size are as follows:
| Number in SNAP household | Maximum benefit |
| 1 | $194 |
| 2 | $355 |
| 3 | $509 |
| 4 | $646 |
| 5 | $768 |
| 6 | $921 |
| 7 | $1,018 |
| 8 | $1,164 |
| Each additional person | Add $146 |
Indiana SNAP recipients receive their benefits via electronic benefit transfer according to a schedule based on the first letter of their last name. Each month, distribution starts on the 5th and concludes on the 23rd.
All new applications authorized in April will also receive the maximum allotment for their household size. FSSA is working to inform various partners and stakeholders, including retailers, of the change to help them inform and explain to SNAP recipients the reason for the additional allotment.
The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program provides food assistance to low and no income people and families living in the United States. It is a federal aid program administered by the Food and Nutrition Service of the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Distribution of benefits occurs at the state level. In February 2020, 559,600 Hoosiers from approximately 253,658 households across Indiana received SNAP benefits.
We hope that today’s “IS IT TRUEâ€Â will provoke honest and open dialogue concerning issues that we, as responsible citizens of this community, need to address in a rational and responsible way?
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IS IT TRUE that 50% of things we worry about never happen?…that 30% of things we worry about isn’t important? Â …we should only worry about the 20% that directly affects us? Â …we predict during the next 5 to 7 days we will be forced to focus on the things that directly affect us?
IS IT TRUE we are told that our local medical providers, first responders, law enforcement, firefighters and elected officials have all the logistics figured out so they can take on the incoming serge of the potentially deadly Coronavirus head-on? Â …it would be extremely reassuring if they would call a joint news conference and explain to the masses in a detailed, accurate and candid way what we can expect when the Coronavirus serge hits our area? Â …by doing so it will relieve some of the anxieties that many people currently have concerning this pending medical crisis?
IS IT TRUE our “READERS POLLS†are non-scientific but trendy?
FRANKFORT, Ky. (April 2, 2020) – Gov. Andy Beshear recommended Thursday that school districts statewide extend the suspension of in-person instruction until at least May 1 in the latest intensification of efforts to fight the spread of the novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).
The Governor spoke earlier in the day with school superintendents from across the commonwealth about the need to keep the restrictions in place as positive cases of the disease surge. He said he expects private schools to follow the guidelines as well.
“I have encouraged all of our school districts to extend that nontraditional instruction, making sure that our kids out there have learning activities and meal service,†Gov. Beshear said. “This is further sacrificed by our kids and by our educators, but it’s absolutely necessary.â€
He said officials are watching data coming in from across the state and nation and studying how other cities are dealing with the surge of cases. The Governor said a decision to further extend the restrictions, perhaps even canceling the rest of the school year for in-person instruction, was possible.
“There is a real chance that we don’t go back to in-person instruction this year, but we’re not there yet,†Gov. Beshear said.
Sentences commuted for non-violent offenders
Honoring his commitment to safeguarding the health and safety of all Kentuckians, including corrections staff and those in custody, Gov. Beshear announced Thursday plans to commute the sentences for hundreds of non-violent offenders. The move reduces the risk of virus transmission for an at-risk population as well as for the Department of Corrections officers and other personnel.
“This is lightening the load on our corrections system and at the same time protecting some of the most vulnerable individuals who are in the corrections system,†said J. Michael Brown, Secretary of the Executive Cabinet.
Gov. Beshear commuted the sentences of 186 inmates identified as being medically vulnerable to the coronavirus and plans to commute the sentences of another 743 inmates in state custody who are due to complete their sentences within the next six months.
The Governor said all of those receiving commutations were being held for non-violent, non-sexual offenses.
State Parks
Gov. Beshear announced that beginning Friday, all Kentucky State Parks no longer will be open for overnight stays. The facilities will be open for use during daytime hours as long as visitors maintain proper social distancing. Kentucky State Parks will be open to the public between the hours of 7 a.m. and 7 p.m.
“Starting tomorrow there will be no overnight stays in our state parks. None in the campgrounds and none in the lodges,†said Gov. Beshear. “This is to make sure that we’re all healthy at home. It’s making sure that we’re not creating opportunities for people to create a crowd and we’re not presenting a haven for those coming from other places to potentially bring their contacts.â€
Fairgrounds
The Governor said plans are moving ahead to convert the state fairgrounds in Louisville into a 2,000-bed makeshift hospital.
“Our goal is to be ready when the surge comes,†Gov. Beshear said. “I want to have it ready before we need even one of those single beds. And if we don’t end up needing it: Hallelujah!â€
Call to action on gloves
Gov. Beshear issued a call to action as the state works to keep stocks of personal protective equipment (PPE) amid dwindling supplies.
“What we need right now in Kentucky, and I know there’s a lot out there, is gloves for our medical professionals,†he said. “We believe this is the next area where there’s going to be another big run in the United States.â€
The Governor asked anyone who could make donations of gloves or other PPE supplies to call the National Guard Hotline at 502-607-6844 or go to tinyurl.com/KYEMCOVID.
Travel into Kentucky
Gov. Beshear expanded a recent order restricting travel to include people from out of state coming into the commonwealth. Anyone from out of state has to follow the same travel restrictions as Kentuckians.
“We have to make sure we don’t have people traveling in, staying two days and then leaving, because that frustrates everything we are trying to do right now,†the Governor said. “If someone has a family member from out of state and they want to come and ride it out with their family members, that’s fine. But once you get here, you quarantine for 14 days and you don’t go anywhere else. It’s no different than any other state is doing. It’s a precaution that all states should do and most states are doing.â€
Case information
As of 5 p.m. April 2, the Governor said there were 770 cases of COVID-19 in Kentucky, 100 of which were newly confirmed. There were 11 new deaths reported Thursday, raising the state’s toll to 31 deaths related to the virus.
Gov. Beshear said all but one of the deaths, and possibly all of them, were people with other health conditions.
“That is what this virus does. It goes after people who have other health conditions,†the Governor said, adding that he wanted Kentuckians to join him in lighting their homes green in honor of the lives lost. “Let’s recommit to making sure we do everything we can to make sure we don’t have too many more days like today.â€
Key recent updates
Three critical steps keep the focus on COVID-19 fight
Gov. Beshear asked Kentuckians to stay focused on three key steps that can be done here to blunt the deadly outbreak: social distancing, boosting testing and health care capacity. He asked everyone to help by maintaining good social distancing and staying safe at home. And the Governor said officials in government and industry were working tirelessly to add hospital beds, intensive-care units and ventilators to sites throughout the commonwealth.
Helping Kentucky workers
Josh Benton, deputy secretary of the Education and Workforce Development Cabinet, said officials are working to fix problems brought on by an unprecedented surge in unemployment claims. Benton said the claims website, kcc.ky.gov, has been completely revamped for ease of use and capacity was being continuously added to the call center. Gov. Beshear has expanded access for groups not normally eligible for unemployment insurance. Substitute teachers, freelance workers, small-business owners, restaurant workers and more can access a range of benefits.
Out-of-state travel restricted
Gov. Beshear issued an order March 30 restricting out-of-state travel by Kentuckians during the state of emergency. The decree allows for a range of exemptions, including travel to other states for work and groceries, to care for loved ones, to obtain health care and when required by a court order. Kentuckians arriving back in the commonwealth from out of state are required to self-quarantine for 14 days.
Team Kentucky Fund
Gov. Beshear, along with the Kentucky Public Protection Cabinet, took executive action to establish the Team Kentucky Fund, a GoFundMe-style online platform to provide financial help to Kentuckians whose employment is affected by the coronavirus. The Governor has challenged those who are able to help to make a tax-deductible donation to the fund. On April 1, Gov. Beshear announced donations had surpassed $400,000. He also shared videos from the University of Louisville men’s basketball coach Chris Mack, UofL head football Coach Scott Satterfield and University of Kentucky men’s basketball Coach John Calipari urging people to help their neighbors.
National Guard
Gov. Beshear called on the Kentucky National Guard to help feed the commonwealth’s seniors, families and displaced workers during the coronavirus pandemic. National Guard members will deploy to four regional food bank warehouses to help sort, package and distribute that food through “no-touch†deliveries in communities across the commonwealth.
Alert: Testing scams
Gov. Beshear and Dr. Steven Stack, commissioner for the Department for Public Health, warned Kentuckians to be wary of coronavirus testing scams. The Governor said there were both at-home tests being sold and some drive-up testing operations being reported.
“You shouldn’t be handing over your hard-earned and precious money to go get pop-up testing anywhere,†said Dr. Stack, who urged anyone feeling ill or with questions to follow the state’s guidance on when to call health care providers.
U.S. Census duty
Gov. Beshear reminded Kentuckians to complete the 2020 Census at 2020Census.gov while staying healthy at home. “We want to make sure every single person in Kentucky is counted so our state receives the correct amount of federal funding over the next 10 years,†the Governor said. “These dollars will help us recover from the health, social and economic impacts of COVID-19.â€
Federal disaster aid, CARES Act help Kentuckians
Gov. Beshear announced two moves by the federal government to help the commonwealth’s coronavirus response and recovery efforts. The Major Disaster Declaration issued by President Donald Trump broadens access to the Public Assistance Program statewide to pay for emergency protective services. And the federal CARES Act provides a variety of assistance and hope to Kentuckians whose livelihoods have been harmed by the coronavirus outbreak and response. Among the provisions are a $600 raise to the maximum weekly benefit, an additional 13 weeks of coverage and expanded eligibility for unemployment insurance.
Orders help grocery workers, the nursing industry
Grocery store workers can now receive the same emergency child care benefits that previously were extended to first responders and health care workers. Gov. Beshear said while the food supply remains safe, his administration wants to support the workers stocking shelves and manning the checkouts. Gov. Beshear also praised the Kentucky Board of Nursing for working with officials to moderate enforcement of some training and licensing requirements during the emergency. Among the issues addressed by a new order from the Governor: It eases restrictions on nurses who live out of state and makes it quicker to obtain a license.
Reporting hotline
Gov. Beshear announced the COVID-19 Reporting Hotline 833-KY SAFER (833-597-2337) for complaints about non-compliance with coronavirus mandates. Labor Cabinet personnel will monitor the hotline from 7:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. ET. Kentuckians can visit the website kysafer.ky.gov to make online complaints.
To read about other key updates from Gov. Beshear visit the news section on governor.ky.gov.
More Information
Gov. Beshear has taken decisive action to protect all Kentuckians since the first case was confirmed in the commonwealth. To read the full list of actions Gov. Beshear has taken to protect Kentuckians and limit the spread of the coronavirus, visit governor.ky.gov/covid19.
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) encourages people to follow these steps to prevent illness. Kentuckians who want advice can call the state hotline at 800-722-5725 or call their local health care provider. To read Gov. Beshear’s news releases and watch other news regarding COVID-19 visit governor.ky.gov.
Each day at 5 p.m. ET, Gov. Beshear holds briefings for Kentuckians that are streamed online at his Facebook and YouTube pages.
Gov. Beshear continues to urge Kentuckians to be cautious of rumors and depend on proven and good sources of news, including governor.ky.gov, kycovid19.ky.gov and the Governor’s official social media accounts Facebook, Twitter and YouTube.
Indiana State Officials Prepare For A Surge In COVID-19 Cases
By Erica IrishÂ
TheStatehouseFile.com
INDIANAPOLIS—The number of COVID-19 cases in Indiana rose to 2,159 Tuesday, and 49 people have now died from the novel respiratory illness, according to the latest reports from state health officials.
But even as the state takes aggressive action to gather additional personal protective equipment and staff for hospitals, the public health crisis is exacting its toll on those charged with finding new strategies to protect Hoosiers, who remains under a stay-at-home order issued by Gov. Eric Holcomb until at least April 7.
“It’s a very sad reality that in this pandemic our number of cases and number of deaths are going to continue to increase. I don’t want to minimize a single one of those losses,†Indiana State Health Commissioner Dr. Kristina Box said at Tuesday’s daily, virtual press briefing as she appeared to choke up in her remarks.
“I do not want Hoosiers to see these rising numbers and think that means that the peak has arrived. We have a very long way to go before we reach the peak and I cannot say enough about how important it is for you to continue to stay home.â€
Holcomb added it is difficult to predict when state officials can de-escalate their response to the virus, which has so far closed businesses, schools and more.
“We understand and are equally concerned about the pain that is being put upon all of us, both from a humanitarian and an economical perspective,†Holcomb said. “What we’re trying to do is make sure, one, that our healthcare system doesn’t collapse under the weight of all the new cases, and to do that, we’ve had to change our behavior.â€
COVID-19 cases are expected to surge in the coming weeks and peak in mid- to late-April. But projections aren’t certain on that, either: The number of cases might not peak until May, Box said Monday, and cases may increase and stagnate in waves.
On Monday, Box, Holcomb and other state health officials outlined their latest strategies to the impending surge, including measures to preserve personal protective equipment needed to keep healthcare workers responding to COVID-19 safe by limiting elective medical procedures ahead of the surge.
State officials also set a goal to double the number of ventilators and intensive care unit beds available to treat patients who fall critically ill to the disease and called on medical professionals who have retired or are not currently working to volunteer to help with the COVID-19 response, a plea that has now resulted in 11,000 volunteers.  The number of volunteers more than doubled in a single day.
While specific numbers have yet to be confirmed by the state health department and regional hospitals, Box said she and state officials expect that around 20% of those testing positive for COVID-19 will be hospitalized at this time. An estimated 5% of those hospitalized could fall critically ill and require treatment in an intensive care unit, she added.
On Monday, Holcomb announced he would enact two new executive orders in an effort to slow disease spread and to conserve enough medical supplies to prepare for an expected surge in COVID-19 cases.
One of Holcomb’s new executive orders clarifies guidance to healthcare providers that ask all non-emergency medical procedures to be canceled or postponed. The order applies to a range of services, including dentists, dermatologists, and veterinarians, and also specifies abortion clinics as providers that should limit non-essential services.
In Tuesday’s news conference, Holcomb said healthcare providers should adhere to the language of his executive order when making decisions about what services are non-essential. He did not confirm if providers should specifically cancel or postpone abortions, saying it is up to doctors to determine if a procedure is necessary to prevent harm to a patient.
“Any and all medical expertise and PPE first need to go toward, during this window, toward defeating COVID-19,†Holcomb said. PPE is personal protective equipment.
The inclusion of abortion clinics has raised questions among providers and other groups who seek to protect access to abortion.
“Medical experts recognize that abortion is an essential, time-sensitive medical procedure,†Planned Parenthood of Indiana and Kentucky CEO Chris Charbonneau said in a statement Tuesday. “We are complying with the governor’s directive, which requires health care providers to stop providing surgeries or invasive procedures that are non-urgent as determined by their medical provider.â€
The national arm of the American Civil Liberties Union has sued three states — Ohio, Alabama and Iowa — for executive orders that restrict access to abortion. A federal appeals court in Texas on Tuesday upheld the state’s ban on all abortion procedures during the pandemic.
“Clearly, some lawmakers will stop at nothing to push abortion care out of reach,†said Jennifer Dalven, director of the ACLU Reproductive Freedom Project, in a statement. “Doing so is a violation of our rights at any time, but during a pandemic, the consequences are even direr.â€
The ACLU of Indiana said it will continue to monitor how the directive affects abortion access and that abortion providers will comply with the governor’s order to preserve medical supplies while ensuring pregnant people have access to the healthcare they need.
“As the scientific community responds to the COVID-19 virus, pregnant people must have available to them the full range of health services and accurate information to make their own decisions about pregnancy and parenting,†representatives for the ACLU of Indiana said in a statement.
FOOTNOTE: Erica Irish is a reporter for TheStatehouseFile.com, a news website powered by Franklin College journalism students.Â
Mayors are working closely with their local public health agencies to disseminate information to the general public, schools, businesses, outgoing travelers and others.
Below are some best practices that you may want to replicate in your city. We encourages Mayors to share their best practices as a resource to their peers across the country.
To share activities and resources with the Conference, please email Dalen Harris.
FOOTNOTE: Â WE HIGHLY RECOMMEND THAT AREA MAYORS AND COUNTY OFFICIALSÂ CONSIDER ADOPTING SOME OF THE ABOVE GUIDELINES PROVIDED BY MANY MAJOR CITY MAYORS THROUGHOUT THE UNITED STATES. Â
INFORMATION IS POWER!
