HEALTH DEPARTMENT UPDATES STATEWIDE COVID-19 CASE COUNTS

INDIANAPOLIS — The Indiana State Department of Health (ISDH) today announced that 650 additional Hoosiers have been diagnosed with COVID-19 through testing at ISDH, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and private laboratories. That brings to 22,503 the total number of Indiana residents known to have the novel coronavirus following corrections to the previous day’s total.

While the number of cases has increased, the intensive care unit and ventilator capacity remain steady. As of Wednesday, 42 percent of ICU beds and about 80 percent of ventilators were available at hospitals throughout the state.

A total of 1,295 Hoosiers have been confirmed to have died of COVID-19, an increase of 31 over the previous day. Another 119 probable deaths have been reported. Probable deaths are those for which a physician listed COVID-19 as a contributing cause based on X-rays, scans, and other clinical symptoms but for which no positive test is on record. Deaths are reported based on when data are received by ISDH and occurred over multiple days.

 To date, 124,782 tests have been reported to ISDH, up from 120,496 on Wednesday.

Marion County had the newest cases, at 186. Other counties with more than 10 new cases were Allen (26), Cass (29), Elkhart (27), Greene (31), Hamilton (12), Henry (11), Jackson (32), Johnson (11), LaPorte (20), Lake (55), Madison (12), Porter (13), St. Joseph (15) and White (28). The Lake County totals include results from East Chicago and Gary, which have their own health departments.

To increase testing, 20 sites around the state are now open through a partnership with OptumServe. Individuals can register online at https://lhi.care/covidtesting or by calling (888) 634-1116. Clinics run Monday-Friday from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., and an additional 30 testing sites will be announced by next week.

ISDH also is offering drive-thru testing clinics in East Chicago, Plymouth, New Castle, Seymour and Lafayette this week. All sites are listed on the COVID-19 testing link at www.coronavirus.in.gov/.

Gov. Beshear Prepares for Primary Elections, Revises Travel Restrictions

FRANKFORT, Ky. (May 6, 2020) – Gov. Andy Beshear on Wednesday prepared voters to take part safely in the upcoming primary elections and revised travel restrictions as we continue to fight the novel coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19).

Today, the Governor also provided updates on coronavirus statistics and expanding testing efforts. He offered new details about primary elections that were moved to late June and issued a new executive order on travel restrictions.

“As long as we continue to be good neighbors, we can write our chapter in the history books about how to defeat this pandemic,” Gov. Beshear said.

Case information
As of 5 p.m. May 6, Gov. Beshear said there were at least 5,934 coronavirus cases in Kentucky, 159 of which were newly confirmed Wednesday, a day after the largest one-day total of new cases were reported.

“Obviously, that is less than half of yesterday, so we do still believe we are stabilized and hopefully plateaued here in the commonwealth,” the Governor said.

Unfortunately, Gov. Beshear also reported eight new deaths Wednesday, raising the state’s toll to 283 deaths related to the virus.

“These are eight of us, these are eight of our citizens who are gone too early. These are eight families and eight communities in mourning today,” the Governor said. “Let’s prove that no matter how many days we have to report these, that we care just as much each and every day.”

The deaths include two women, ages 88 and 95, from Jackson County; a 72-year-old woman from Jefferson County; two women, ages 85 and 99, from Kenton County; two women, ages 57 and 63, from Muhlenberg County; and a 73-year-old from Russell County.

At least 2,125 Kentuckians have recovered from the virus.

For additional information, including up-to-date lists of positive cases and deaths, as well as breakdowns of coronavirus infections by county, race and ethnicity, click here.

Testing update
Gov. Beshear is urging Kentuckians to take advantage of expanding coronavirus testing across the state.

The Governor said the state’s partnership with Kroger will bring more testing next week in Louisville, Lexington, Elizabethtown and Corbin.

“Sign-ups are live now, right now,” said Gov. Beshear. “We need to fill up more than 400 slots each day. Let’s not have any more no-shows. Let’s get everyone tested.”

Information on how to register at dozens of sites throughout the commonwealth – including new drive-through operations in Pikeville and Ashland – can be found at kycovid19.ky.gov.

Health care reopening Phase 2
Kentucky Department for Public Health (KDPH) Commissioner Dr. Steven Stack said Health Care Phase 2 is beginning with outpatient and ambulatory surgery and invasive procedures.

“This means that same-day or procedures that last less than 24 hours can be performed in ambulatory surgical centers and hospitals and other facilities,” said Dr. Stack, who added the facilities must first show they’re ready to operate under strict guidelines.

All patients must have COVID-19 pre-procedure testing per professional association guidelines consistent with KDPH guidance. The 10 rules of reopening also apply, which includes universal masking and personal protective equipment (PPE), closed common areas, along with requirements to follow specific procedure guidance.

Preparing for primary elections
Gov. Beshear offered new details on the coming primary elections, urging voters to get ready to request absentee ballots and announcing help from the Kentucky National Guard.

Last month, Gov. Beshear and Secretary of State Michael Adams agreed to move the primary elections to June 23 and to allow everyone to request absentee ballots. The Governor noted that voters in Jefferson County already can request an absentee ballot through the County Clerk’s Office website. An online portal for all voters to request the ballots is being created.

The Governor said National Guard leaders offered to help and members will work as poll workers and keep polling places operating safely. The Governor said he was proud of the guard for stepping in to help where in-person voting is necessary.

Gov. Beshear credited Kentucky National Guard Brig. Gen. Hal Lamberton with offering to help with the election.

“We literally are spread out across the entire state and I would venture we probably have soldiers or airmen who live in virtually all 120 counties,” Lamberton said. “So it quite simply is a common-sense solution for the issue.”

Travel restrictions
Gov. Beshear said his administration is changing its travel restrictions to better comply with judicial findings and more closely mirror the guidance of neighboring states.

The Governor issued a new executive order that continues to ban anyone with a positive or presumptively positive case of COVID-19 from entering Kentucky, except as ordered for medical treatment. It also keeps in place requirements of social distancing on public transportation.

Those traveling from out of state into Kentucky and staying are being asked to self-quarantine for 14 days.

“Basically, the court said, ‘We think Ohio’s is fine. We think yours should be more like Ohio’s,’” the Governor said. “So we’ve issued one today that’s just like Ohio’s. That’s what the court says will work, so that’s what we’ll do.”

Thank you
Gov. Beshear acknowledged that today is National Nurses Day, and it comes on National Nurses Week at a time when our health care givers are doing more than their share.

“Thank you to all of our nurses out there on the front lines at one of the most dangerous times, ever, to be a nurse,” the Governor said. “We appreciate you so very much.”

The Governor noted that today also is National Interpreter Appreciation Day. He praised Virginia Moore, the lead American Sign Language interpreter for his daily briefings, and all those who help work in state government.

Moore tied both honorific days together by teaching us how to sign the phrase: “Thank you, nurses.” Gov. Beshear then asked how to sign, “Thank you, Virginia.”

More information
Read about other key updates, actions and information from Gov. Beshear and his administration at governor.ky.gov, kycovid19.ky.gov and the Governor’s official social media accounts Facebook, Twitter and YouTube.

Kentuckians can also access translated COVID-19 information and daily summaries of the Governor’s news conference at tinyurl.com/kygovespanol (Spanish) and tinyurl.com/kygovtranslations (more than 20 additional languages).

State To Offer Protective Equipment To Small Businesses

By Victoria Ratliff
TheStatehouseFile.com

INDIANAPOLIS—Starting Wednesday, small businesses that haven’t been able to buy personal protective equipment for their employees will be able to get it from the state.

Indiana is opening a “PPE Marketplace” that will provide bundles of masks, gowns, and hand sanitizers to business and nonprofit organizations. To qualify for the bundles, which are free, the businesses must be registered in Indiana, have fewer than 150 employees, must need the equipment as part of a reopening plan, and be a retail store, restaurant, personal services provider, or an office.

“We encourage everyone to continue to try and source PPE from traditional providers, and use the marketplace as a secondary source,” said Luke Bosso, chief of staff for the Indiana Economic Development Corporation.

Bosso, announcing the program at Gov. Eric Holcomb’s daily virtual press conference, said currently only 10,000 orders will be able to be fulfilled, as the state continues to focus on directing PPE to frontline workers. They plan to replenish the marketplace stock, and those unable to get the equipment in the first round will be in line to receive it when more become available.

Under the phased-in plan outlined by Holcomb, Indiana is reopening businesses even though the numbers of COVID-19 cases and deaths continue to rise.

The state reported 541 new COVID-19 cases Tuesday, bringing the total of confirmed cases to 21,033. There were an additional 62 deaths, with the total toll now at 1,213. An additional 113 people are believed to have died from the virus based on their symptoms.

The White House had advised states to avoid reopening until a downward trajectory is seen over 14 days — a standard Indiana has not yet met. And the number of people tested remains low. Only 2,550 Hoosiers were tested Tuesday, with a total of 115,834 of Indiana’s 6.8 million residents tested so far.

Pressed on whether it’s wise to be the hardest-hit state to start reopening so far, Holcomb said he spoke to Vice President Mike Pence — Holcomb’s predecessor as governor — Monday evening.

“He said he’s seen a lot of plans to reopen throughout the country and he’s seen none better than ours,” Holcomb said. “He commented on how thorough it was, how thoughtful, how it projected out, how we’re able to adapt to the facts on the ground… He held it up, actually, as a model.”

That drew a rebuke from Senate Minority Leader Tim Lanane, D-Anderson.

“Did I hear right that the governor said Vice President Pence commended Indiana’s plan to reopen as the best in the country?” Lanane said in a statement released after Holcomb’s briefing. “How can Indiana have the best plan to reopen when this so-called plan doesn’t even meet the standards set up by the President and Vice President themselves?”

Leanne noted that Indiana reportedly has the highest number of COVID-19 cases per capita among the states that are re-opening their economies. “It is irresponsible that our state and federal leadership seems to be all over the board on this and is succumbing to the emotional demands of a distinct minority to rush to reopen, instead of following a true-safety first approach.”

Holcomb said the state, in making its re-opening plans, is monitoring hospitalization rates, the availability of intensive care unit beds and ventilators, and emergency medical runs. If the numbers change, he said, “we will reassess.”

One key to stopping the spread of the virus is testing and then tracing the contacts of people who test positive. Dr. Lindsay Weaver, chief medical officer for the State Department of Health, said the state now has 120 testing sites open with plans to open 30 more next week.

“Our job is to make sure we have the capacity level high to allow that any Hoosier, if they’re sick or if they’re in close contact with somebody who is sick, has the ability to go and get that done,” Weaver said.

Under Holcomb’s plan, the first round of businesses was allowed to open their doors Monday, with more to follow in the coming weeks.

Restaurants, which can open at 50% capacity May 11, are preparing to reopen safely and adapt to the new guidelines.

Patrick Tamm, president and chief executive officer of the Indiana Restaurant and Lodging Association, said Hoosiers should expect changes when they return to restaurants, including contactless menus, one-time-use condiments, and distanced tables or booths.

“We’re looking forward to doing the right thing, but also with the Hoosier hospitality promise, making sure what our guests know to expect, and what our team members are to expect,” he said.

Still, Tamm said while restaurants are looking forward to reopening, any Hoosier who feels sick or has been around someone who has felt sick should stay home and order delivery.

“Let us continue to serve you, but we cannot allow you to come into our restaurants during this time,” he said. “It’s absolutely critical with regards to our employees, our teammates, and also our fellow Hoosiers and the traveling public.”

FOOTNOTE: Victoria Ratliff is a reporter for TheStatehouseFile.com, a news website powered by Franklin College journalism students.