The Indiana State Police will be joining forces this week with Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia State Police agencies, for what is known as the Six-State Trooper Project. During this collaborative effort, troopers across northeast Indiana will be taking to the highways March 12^th -14^th with a primary focus on criminal interdiction through high volume traffic enforcement.

During this period, motorists can expect to see an increased presence of our troopers on the roadsides conducting traffic stops. Drivers are encouraged to not drive distracted, and to be increasingly aware of the need to move over or slowdown as required to give them the room to work safely.

Why target traffic violations to catch criminals? Troopers understand that the criminal element by and large operates in a mobile environment. Criminals regularly must navigate our roadways while moving from point A to point B. By conducting large scale coordinated patrols such as the Six-State Trooper Project, we effectively create a bigger net for law enforcement to fish. We achieve safer roadways through increased traffic enforcement, with an overall commitment to creating safer communities by getting criminals off the streets.

Help the ISP make a difference in your community! Motorist that observe high-risk driving behavior, suspect impaired driving, or suspect criminal activity on our roadways are always encouraged to call 911, or call direct to the Indiana State Police Fort Wayne Post at (260)432-8661.

he number of Hoosiers who have tested presumptively positive for COVID-19 remains at six, according to the Indiana State Department of Health (ISDH).

Two individuals with positive tests announced earlier today are residents of Boone and Adams counties. Five Indiana counties now have cases of COVID-19. The other residents who have been diagnosed live in Marion, Hendricks and Noble counties.

Two of the people with COVID-19 are in the hospital; the other four people are in self-isolation. ISDH continues to work with local health departments to identify close contacts of the existing patients and is prepared for the possibility that additional cases may occur.

All of the cases identified so far have a connection to another case.

Other developments:

• The ISDH call center has received nearly 900 calls since March 6 from healthcare providers and the public. The call center is staffed 24/7. From 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., call 317-233-7125. Calls after 8 p.m. should go to 317-233-1325 and will be answered by an on-call epidemiologist. The primary purpose of the call center is to provide guidance from the CDC to healthcare providers and the public. Call center staff will not offer personal medical advice. If you are sick, consult with your healthcare provider.
• ISDH has created a dashboard showing the number of presumptive positive cases in Indiana and the number of tests performed. The dashboard is located on the ISDH COVID-19 website at https://on.in.gov/COVID19 and will be updated at 10 a.m. daily.
• The CDC and U.S. State Department have advised travelers, especially those with underlying medical conditions, to avoid getting on cruise ships. That guidance can be found here.
• The number of subscribers to the COVID-19 website has increased to more than 7,600. Hoosiers are encouraged to continue to sign up to receive alerts and the latest updated guidance as the outbreak evolves.
• ISDH recommends that nursing homes follow the latest guidance from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. Updated guidance can be found here.
• Many hospitals have visitor restrictions in place due to influenza. ISDH recommends hospitals continue to monitor the situation and revise those policies as appropriate.

ISDH will continue to provide daily updates regarding COVID-19 in Indiana as activity has increased across the United States.

About COVID-19

COVID-19 is a respiratory illness caused by a novel, or new, coronavirus that has not been previously identified. The virus causing COVID-19 is not the same as the coronaviruses that commonly circulate among humans and cause mild illness, like the common cold.

Human coronaviruses most commonly spread from an infected person to others through:

• Respiratory droplets released into the air by coughing and sneezing;
• Close personal contact, such as touching or shaking hands;
• Touching an object or a surface with the virus on it, then touching your mouth, nose, or eyes before washing your hands; and
• Rarely, fecal contamination.

The CDC does not recommend that people who are well wear a facemask to protect themselves from respiratory illnesses, including COVID-19. You should only wear a mask if a healthcare professional recommends it. A facemask should be used by people who have COVID-19 and are showing symptoms to protect others from the risk of infection.