Columbus Regional Health is beginning the gradual return to normal operations, allowing some elective procedures to begin again at the hospital.

Kelsey DeClue, spokeswoman for CRH, explains during a recent video update to the community available below.

The hospital will be expanding its services again through a phased approach focused on the safety of patients and the workforce.

The hospital is in the process of contacting patients who had medical procedures or services delayed under the governor’s orders. Those include surgical services, screening and diagnostic procedures, and other outpatient care.

Patients will notice heightened safety measures, including screening assessments of everyone going into CRH facilities, the limited entrances to the hospital, restrictions on visitors and pre-testing of surgical procedure patients for COVID-19. Those entering the campus will be given a mask to wear if they do not already have one of their own, DeClue said.

If you had a procedure scheduled and have not yet heard from the hospital, you can call the main number at 800-841-4938

Indiana now has 17,835 total cases of COVID-19 being reported, an increase of 669 cases since Wednesday’s total.

According to the Indiana State Department of Health, there have been 1,007 deaths as of this afternoon’s update, an increase of 44 deaths from the previous day’s numbers.

Bartholomew County has 250 confirmed cases, an increase of 9 since Wednesday. There have been 12 deaths so far from the coronavirus in Bartholomew County.

In other area counties, Decatur has 200 cases and has had 28 deaths, an increase of 1 death. Jennings 75 cases and 2 deaths, Jackson 138 cases and 1 death, Brown 15 cases and 1 death, Johnson 579 cases and 62 deaths; and Shelby 201 cases and 12 deaths.

Cummins is planning on bringing about 1,100 manufacturing employees in southern Indiana back to work on Monday as the company starts up again.

Jon Mills, company spokesman, says that manufacturing workers will be returning to work at all southern Indiana facilities on Monday except for Columbus Midrange Engine Plant.

Mills said that CMEP would be reopened when Fiat Chrysler Automobiles returns to production of the heavy-duty Ram trucks using Cummins engines. About 900 of the company’s 2,000 southern Indiana manufacturing employees work at CMEP, Mills said.

Mills said, the company’s goal is to have a safe workplace for returning workers and the company is taking steps to ensure that including providing protective gear, thorough cleanings and disinfection, rearranging workspaces and workflow to maintain social distancing, health screenings and temperature checks.

The reopening of the manufacturing plants and the return of those workers does not change the situation of the many office workers who will continue to work reduced hours, at home and with reduced pay until such time they can be safely brought back to work, Mills said.

A garage fire near Eighth and Union Streets Wednesday morning ignited a second garage fire, damaged a passenger car and melted siding on nearby structures.

Columbus firefighters were called to the 1100 block of Eighth Street at about 6:45 a.m. Wednesday morning on a report of a structure fire and found a standalone garage off of Union Street fully engulfed in flames. The fire was so hot that it ignited a garage across the alley off of Eighth Street, and damaged the siding on three neighboring homes as well as a garage. A car next to the garage also went up in flames.

Complicating efforts to fight the fire were downed power lines in the area.

Firefighters had the fire under control within about 10 minutes. The cause of the fire is under investigation and damages are estimated at $23,000, according to the fire department. No one was injured.

Indiana now has 17,182 total cases of COVID-19 being reported, an increase of 605 cases since Tuesday’s total. According to the Indiana State Department of Health, the state has had 964 deaths as of this afternoon’s update, an increase of 63 deaths from the previous day’s numbers.

The number of deaths from coronavirus in less than two months is more than the number of motor vehicle accident deaths in any of the past 10 years. And nearly 8 times as many flu deaths as of this year’s flu season.

Bartholomew County has 241 confirmed cases, an increase of 3 since yesterday. There have been 12 deaths so far from the coronavirus in Bartholomew County, an increase of 1.

In other area counties, Decatur has 199 cases and has had 27 deaths. Jennings 74 cases and 2 deaths, Jackson 128 cases and 1 death, Brown 15 cases and 1 death, Johnson 563 cases and 62 deaths, an increase of 4 deaths; and Shelby 194 cases and 12 deaths, an increase of two deaths since yesterday’s report.

The Edinburgh outlet mall is part of a plan announced by Simon Properties yesterday to reopen 10 malls across the state, and 39 others across the country.

Indiana’s stay-at-home order is set to expire on Friday. But Gov. Eric Holcomb is not yet saying if he will expand it or if the malls will be allowed to reopen. The governor addressed the issue at yesterday’s COVID-19 press briefing.

Our news-gathering partners at TTWN Inc. are reporting that the malls in Indiana that will open include Indiana Premium Outlets in Edinburgh, Castleton Square, Circle Centre Mall, College Mall, Fashion Mall at Keystone, Greenwood Park Mall, Hamilton Town Center,  Lighthouse Place Premium Outlets, Tippecanoe Mall, and the University Park Mall.

Vice President Mike Pence is taking criticism for not wearing a face mask  while visiting the Mayo Clinic.

According to our news-gathering partners at TTWN Media Networks Inc., Pence went to the Rochester, Minnesota facility yesterday and his decision to not wear a mask or covering goes against guidelines issued by the Mayo Clinic. It said earlier this month that all patients and visitors are required to cover their face. Pence was also the only one without a mask at a roundtable.

In a tweet later deleted, Mayo posted that the Vice President had been informed about the masking policy before his arrival.

Pence is praising Mayo Clinic’s efforts to combat COVID-19.

The Vice President’s visit came after Governor Tim Walz’s announcement about a ramped up virus testing plan in partnership with Mayo Clinic and the University of Minnesota.

Foundation for Youth held a virtual annual meeting online Tuesday day afternoon, including annual awards.

The 2019 It Takes a Village Award went to Heritage Fund — The Community Foundation of Bartholomew County. Other awards included: Corporate Volunteer of the Year award to LHP, Volunteer of the Year to Cathy Hoehne, Friend of Camp Award to Britt Brewer, Coach of the Year to Juliana Bernabe , Employee of the Year to Brian Cain, Hollenbeck Sportsmanship Awards to Austin Baker and Sydney Baker. Camper of the Year Award to Jaedyn Greenlee. The Carlin Lucas Girl of the Year Award to Makenzie Harman and Boy of the Year to Luis Ernesto (Ernie) Burrola Ortegon and Youth of the Year Award to Keller McNear.

For more on the annual awards and the 2020 FFY annual report, click here

Gov. Eric Holcomb announced Tuesday that the Columbus National Guard Armory would be among the first large-scale testing sites or COVID-19, starting for Hoosiers within the next week.

There will be a total of 50 testing sites around the state with 20 opening in National Guard armories over the next seven days and 30 more sites over the next two weeks. Area sites in the first wave will include testing in Columbus, Johnson County, and Scottsburg.

The governor says testing will be available for any symptomatic Hoosier, close contacts of positive cases, or residents of congregate living settings. State Health Commissioner Dr. Kris Box will issue a standing order for the test for any Hoosier who meets the criteria. Hoosiers will not be charged for testing and insurance is not required. If you have private health insurance, you should bring that information with you.

OptumServe Health Services will operate the sites. Registration will be required and a registration web site will be opening soon as well as a hotline phone number.

The goal is to have 4,400 Hoosiers tested a day in the first phase with 6,600 tests a day once all the sites are open.

Indiana now has 16,588 total cases of COVID-19 being reported, an increase of 650 cases since Monday’s total. According to the Indiana State Department of Health, the state has had 901 deaths as of Tuesday afternoon’s update, an increase of 57 deaths from the previous day’s numbers.

Bartholomew County has 238 confirmed cases, an increase of 32 since yesterday. There have been 11 deaths so far from the coronavirus in Bartholomew County, an increase of 1. Local officials report that 1,619 Bartholomew County residents have been tested, with 1,286 negative restuls and 182 tests still pending.

In other area counties, Decatur has 195 cases and has had 27 deaths. Jennings 72 cases and 2 deaths, an increase of one death, Jackson 125 cases and the county is reporting its first death, Brown 15 cases and 1 death, Johnson 548 cases and 58 deaths, an increase of 7 deaths; and Shelby 191 cases and 10 deaths, an increase of two deaths since yesterday’s report.

Governor: New, free testing sites opening next 7 days

Gov. Eric J. Holcomb announced Tuesday that OptumServe Health Services, powered by Logistics Health, Inc., will open sites across Indiana in the next seven days to begin large-scale testing of Hoosiers.

“Launching this partnership with Optum further expands Indiana’s COVID-19 testing capacity,” said Gov. Holcomb. “These free tests will be available in locations across the state, ensuring even more Hoosiers who have symptoms or an affected family member can get tested for coronavirus.”

In the first 30 days, 100,000 Hoosiers are expected to be tested. Testing is for any symptomatic Hoosier, close contacts of positive cases, or residents of congregate living settings.

Hoosiers can get tested without visiting a healthcare provider. State Health Commissioner Dr. Kris Box will issue a standing order for the test for any Hoosier who meets the criteria.

In the next seven days, 20 testing sites will open in Indiana National Guard armories and an additional 30 testing sites will open in the next 14 days for a total of 50 testing sites. Each site will be open for at least eight hours per day, Monday – Friday. A map is attached.

Testing will be by appointment only. Registration will open 48 hours before testing sites open. To sign up for an appointment, Hoosiers will register through the Optum portal that will launch soon and self-report symptoms using an online screening tool. A hotline phone number will be added soon.

Hoosiers will receive results within 48 hours on average. Results will be provided to the patient via a phone call if the test is positive or via an email or text if the test is negative.

Hoosiers will not be charged for testing and insurance is not required. If you have private health insurance, please bring that information with you.

“We have been working diligently to increase access to testing throughout Indiana with drive-thru clinics and strike teams,” said Dr. Box. “By joining forces with Optum, we will ensure that testing for COVID-19 is available to Hoosiers who need it most.”

OptumServe will collect the swabs specimens, and manage the testing and reporting of data. OptumServe is providing its own supplies, PPE, testing kits, staffing and lab – increasing Indiana’s overall testing capacity. The Indiana State Department of Health will continue to target focused testing and high risk populations in its testing.

An estimated 4,400 more Hoosiers will be tested every day in the initial phase. Once all 50 sites are open, as many as 6,600 more Hoosiers can be tested per day.