The first wave of state testing sites for COVID-19 are due to open today, including a site at the Columbus National Guard Armory
Gov. Eric Holcomb announced last week that Columbus would be among the first large-scale testing sites for COVID-19. There will be a total of 50 testing sites around the state with 20 opening in National Guard armories this week and 30 more sites over the next week.
The Indiana State Health Department reports that the site at the Columbus Armory, at 2160 Arnold Street, will be open from 7 to 7 today through Friday this week with an appointment required for testing. The test is free.
The testing is open to those with symptoms who have close contacts with confirmed COVID-19 positive patients or who have close contact with at risk populations.
To register you can go to lhi.care/covidtesting testing or you can call (888) 634-1116.
A drive-thru testing site is also opening today in Jackson County at Seymour High School. You do not need an appointment to get tested. It will be open from 9 to 6 this week, Wednesday through Saturday.
A new downtown revitalization area designation in Columbus would open the door for the possibility of tax breaks to build townhouses across from Central Middle School.
Columbus City Council gave its first approval to the request last night from Central Townhomes LLC to create the economic development target area on the north side of Seventh Street between Sycamore and Chestnut streets. In the company’s application to the city, Richard Sprague, with Central Townhomes said that the company plans to remove four homes in that area, and to build 16 townhouses. The almost $5 million dollar investment would create 10 2-bedroom units and six 3-bedroom units, to be sold for between $199 and $279 thousand dollars each.
The Envision Columbus downtown plan calls for greater housing density in the downtown area as a way to spur development.
Approval of the revitalization area means the company can seek a tax abatement for the project, which would phase in property taxes for 10 years, rather than paying the higher property taxes immediately.
Robin Hilber with the city’s community development department, said that the project would come for final approval of the area designation in two weeks, along with the tax abatement request.
The council also approved a tax abatement request for Tulip Richardson Manufacturing on Norcross Drive. The battery component company is planning to invest almost $3 million in the plant and add 19 new jobs by August.
The first wave of state testing sites for COVID-19 are due to open Wednesday, including a site at the Columbus National Guard Armory
Gov. Eric Holcomb announced last week that Columbus would be among the first large-scale testing sites for COVID-19. There will be a total of 50 testing sites around the state with 20 opening in National Guard armories this week and 30 more sites over the next week.
The Indiana State Health Department reports that the site at the Columbus Armory, at 2160 Arnold Street, will be open from 7 to 7 Wednesday through Friday this week with an appointment required for testing. The test is free.
The testing is open to those with symptoms who have close contacts with confirmed COVID-19 positive patients or who have close contact with at risk populations.
To register you can go to lhi.care/covidtesting testing or you can call (888) 634-1123.
A drive-thru testing site is also opening tomorrow in Jackson County at Seymour High School. You do not need an appointment to get tested. It will be open from 9 to 6 this week, Wednesday through Saturday.
Indiana has passed 21,000 confirmed cases of COVID-19, as of Tuesday’s update from the Indiana State Department of Health.
According to the most recent update, there are 21, 033 total confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Indiana, an increase of 541 cases since Monday’s report.
There have been 1,213 deaths as of this afternoon’s update, an increase of 62 deaths from the previous day’s numbers.
Bartholomew County has 297 confirmed cases, an increase of 28 since Sunday. There have been 17 deaths so far from the coronavirus in Bartholomew County, three more since yesterday’s update.
In other area counties, Decatur has 205 cases and has had 28 deaths; Jennings 86 cases and 3 deaths; Jackson 183 cases and 1 death; Brown 18 cases and 1 death, Johnson 730 cases and 75 deaths, an increase of three deaths since yesterday; and Shelby 229 cases and 14 deaths, an increase of one since yesterday.
A manufacturer of battery components is planning a nearly $3 million dollar expansion on Norcross Drive in the Woodside Industrial area.
Tulip Richardson Manufacturing is planning to spend $250,000 in property improvements and just over $2.7 million in new equipment to expand the factory. The equipment will include cold header formation machines used in the production of battery terminals. The company said that the expansion will allow 115 jobs to be retained in Columbus and 19 new jobs to be added by August. The company says its average wage is almost $29 an hour.
The company is asking Columbus City Council to approve a 10-year tax abatement, that would allow new property taxes to be phased in over 10 years.
City Council will consider the request at its meeting tonight at 6 p.m. at Columbus City Hall.
Bartholomew County government workers are back in the office again, although the county is still going to minimize contact with the public.
County officials said on Monday that the workers had returned to their stations following the governor’s relaxing of the statewide restrictions for COVID-19. However, county buildings will still be largely off limits to the public. Most interactions with county workers should be done remotely. If you have to talk with a county worker directly, you should call the appropriate office and an employee will meet you outside to help you.
On Monday, Bartholomew County commissioners ratified the purchase of two high-accuracy temperature scanning devices. The devices, to be used at the county courthouse and the governmental office building will scan up to 30 people at a time as they enter the building and can pick out individuals running a fever. The cost for the two was just over 18 thousand 300 dollars.
Commissioners President Carl Lienhoop said that they believe the temperature checks will be in place for quite a while, based on county health department suggestions. A Louisville hospital uses the devices to scan more than a thousand people entering their facilities each day, Lienhoop said.
The County Commissioners held their meeting remotely over the Zoom app. They expect to make a decision by next week on when they will reopen the meetings physically to the public. Next Tuesday’s County Council meeting is also set to be held through the Zoom app, said County Auditor Pia O’Connor
Indiana has passed 20,000 confirmed cases of COVID-19 , as of Monday’s update from the Indiana State Department of Health.
According to the most recent update, there are 20, 507 total confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Indiana, an increase of 583 cases since Sunday’s report.
There have been 1,151 deaths as of this afternoon’s update, an increase of 19 deaths from the previous day’s numbers.
Bartholomew County has 269 confirmed cases, an increase of 8 since Sunday. There have been 14 deaths so far from the coronavirus in Bartholomew County.
In other area counties, Decatur has 202 cases and has had 28 deaths; Jennings 82 cases and 3 deaths; Jackson 166 cases and 1 death; Brown 18 cases and 1 death, Johnson 718 cases and 72 deaths; and Shelby 224 cases and 13 deaths, an increase of one since Sunday.
Indiana guidance for religious services
The following are the recommended minimum health protocols for places of worship in our state. Places of worship may adopt additional protocols that are consistent with their specific needs and circumstances to help protect health and safety.
The virus is still impacting our communities, and we should continue to observe practices that protect all Hoosiers, including those who are at-risk and most vulnerable.
IN-PERSON SERVICES
When services are in-person, consider the following practices:
Ask all individuals who are 65 and above or who have an underlying at-risk health condition to stay home and watch services online
Ensure 6 feet between individuals or family units of the same households during services
Space and mark seating, alternating rows when possible
Clean between each service and disinfect high-contact surfaces regularly
Place hand sanitizers in high-contact locations (e.g. bathroom, entry, exit) and ask staff, members, and guests to sanitize their hands before entering the building
Recommend putting on a face covering before entering the building
Consider placing signage telling staff, members, and guests to not enter if they are symptomatic or if they have tested positive for COVID-19
Implement non-contact greetings
Avoid handing out materials
Keep cafés, coffee, and other self-service stations closed
Establish safe protocols for any communion and collection to avoid contact
Dismiss services in a way that supports social distancing
Place readily visible signage to remind everyone of best hygiene practices
ADDITIONAL RECOMMENDATIONS
Consider waiting to reopen the preschool and children areas until schools reopen. If open, do not place a mask on children age two (2) or under per CDC guidelines, and limit leaders in the preschool and children’s areas to those who do not have pre-existing conditions and those under age 65.
Starting today in Indiana, you will have a lot more places to go and people you can spend time with.
Indiana Gov. Eric Holcomb unveiled his plan to get Indiana back to normal Friday, revealing a five-stage recovery plan with the goal of being back to full operation by July 4th.
The first stage is the “stay-at-home” order that the state has been under since March 23rd.
The second stage starts today, easing many restrictions for all but the three worst-hit counties — Marion, Lake and Cass counties.
The governor explains one of the biggest priorities under the new stage.
Under the new stage people who are older than 65 or otherwise at risk should still remain at home as much as possible. Social distancing and face coverings are still recommended if you venture out and anyone who can work from home should do so. However, retail businesses can operate at 50 percent of capacity starting today. Manufacturing and construction businesses can return to normal.
Travel restrictions are being lifted. And you can have social gatherings of 25 or fewer people. Starting Friday, religious services such as weddings, funerals and baptisms can begin again, although with crowd size limitations.
There are still businesses that must remain closed including bars and nightclubs, gyms, fitness centers and community centers, and entertainment and cultural locations like museums, zoos, theaters, bowling alleys, tournaments and recreational sports leagues.
Starting next Monday, May 11th, restaurants and many other businesses can operate at 50 percent capacity and personal care locations like hair salons, barber shops and tattoo parlors can begin serving customers again open by appointment only.
The next stage, with a May 23rd timetable, would further allow indoor worship services, gatherings of more than 100 people and and loosen other restrictions.
The governor said that if things begin to go backwards, such as a surge on hospitals or shortages of intensive care beds, the state could step back to a previous stage, imposing restrictions again.
Gov. Eric Holcomb today unveiled his plan to get Indiana back to normal, with a five stage recovery plan with a goal of being back to full operation by July 4th.
The first stage is the “stay-at-home” order that the state has been under since March.
The second stage would start on Monday, May 4th easing many restrictions for all but the three worst-hit counties.
Under Stage 2:
Hoosiers 65 and over and those with high-risk health conditions should remain at home whenever possible. This is the population that is most vulnerable to the coronavirus
Recommend that residents wear face coverings in public settings. Residents also should continue to practice social distancing and good hygiene
Social gatherings of 25 people may take place following the CDC social distancing guidelines. The coronavirus is often spread among groups of people who are in close contact in a confined space for an extended period of time. This limit applies to such events as wedding receptions, birthday parties, Mother’s Day gatherings, and others where people are in close physical contact for extended periods of time
Essential travel restrictions are lifted; local non-essential travel allowed
Continue remote work whenever possible
Restaurants and bars that serve food may open at 50% capacity with operational
limitations on May 11th. Bar seating will be closed with no live entertainment. Servers and kitchen staff must wear face coverings
Also on May 11th, Retail and commercial businesses, including those that have been open for the necessities of life during previous executive orders, may operate at 50% of capacity. Examples include apparel, furniture, jewelry, and liquor stores.
Also on May 11th, personal services, such as hair salons, barber shops, nail salons, spas, and tattoo parlors may reopen by appointment only with operational limitations. Employees must wear face coverings, work stations must be spaced to meet social distancing guidelines, and other requirements must be met. Customers should wear face coverings to the extent possible
Starting May 8th, religious services may convene inside places of worship. There are specific practices that should be considered for in-person services that are driven by social distancing guidelines and protections for those 65 and older and individuals with known high-risk medical conditions. Examples of services include weddings, funerals, and baptisms.
Manufacturers, industrial operations, and other infrastructure that has not been in operation may open following OSHA and CDC guidelines.
About half of the state’s Bureau of Motor Vehicle branches will open with services by appointment only; the remainder of branches will continue to open over the next two weeks
Public libraries may open according to their own policies and CDC guidelines
The next stage, with a May 23 timetable, would further allow indoor worship services of no more than 10 people and loosen other restrictions. Social gatherings of up to 100 people could take place and movie theaters could open at 50 percent capacity.
The governor said that the state could move the community to an earlier stage again if things begin to go backwards.
Edinburgh, Brown County and Greensburg are benefiting from a COVID-19 Response Program through the state of Indiana.
Last week, Lt. Governor Suzanne Crouch and the Indiana Office of Community and Rural Affairs announced almost $2 million dollars in grant funding and yesterday announced another $8.8 million in funds. Crouch explains.
Yesterday, Crouch announced that the Town of Edinburgh was awarded $240,000 to provide grants to small businesses to retain low-to-moderate income employees and to assist with working capital. Brown County was awarded $250,000 to establish a grant program designed to provide economic relief for small businesses to retain jobs.
Last week, The City of Greensburg was awarded $250,000 to provide loans to local small business owners who are low-to-moderate income or to retain low-to-moderate income jobs. The funds will be processed through the local economic development revolving loan program.
