Indiana now has 11,686 total cases of COVID-19 being reported, an increase of 476 cases since Sunday’s total, and has had 569 deaths as of Monday afternoon’s update, an increase of 7 deaths from yesterday’s numbers.

The Indiana State Department of Health is reporting that Bartholomew County has 140 confirmed cases an increase of 4 cases since yesterday. There have been 6 deaths so far from the coronavirus in Bartholomew County, unchanged since last week. There have been 990 Bartholomew County residents tested with 697 negative results and 111 tests still pending.

In other area counties, Decatur has 168 cases and has had 18 deaths. Jennings 64 cases and 1 death, Jackson 89 cases and no deaths, Brown 14 cases and 1 death, Johnson 426 cases and 33 deaths, and Shelby 111 cases and 4 deaths.

Governor modifies “hunker down Hoosiers” order

Governor Eric J. Holcomb today issued a revised Stay At Home order that lasts through May 1 and is designed to limit interactions among Hoosiers to increase containment of COVID-19. As of today, 11,686 people have tested positive and 569 people have died from the disease in Indiana. There are now positive tests in 92 of 92 counties. Click here to see the executive order: https://www.in.gov/gov/2384.htm

As a part of this action, Gov. Holcomb also extended through May 1 the orders that limit in-person public activity at state government offices and put restrictions on the operation of restaurants, bars and nightclubs.

“I want to thank Hoosiers in every corner of our state who have stayed socially-distanced and hunkered down. Lives are being saved, and we’re slowing the spread,” Gov. Holcomb said. “Continuing the course at this time is essential to flattening the curve while we also prepare to safely reopen Indiana for business.”

While the Stay At Home order chiefly continues as is, EO 20-22 brings clarity to some essential businesses.

• As long as sufficient personal protective equipment (PPE), staff and other supplies are available for the COVID-19 response, hospitals should conduct medically necessary procedures, such as those determining cancer diagnosis and cardiac issues, respiratory procedures, and procedures to reduce significant pain or symptoms making quality of life unacceptable.

Any restrictions involving medical procedures will be evaluated every seven days for appropriate and timely modifications that could be implemented.

• Permitted outdoor activity as described in the executive order includes yard work, gardening, planting and landscaping at residential, commercial and industrial properties and farms.

Nurseries and garden centers may be open for business as long as they limit the number of customers in their facility at any given time to achieve the Centers for Disease Control’s required social distancing, limit their hours of operation and consider implementing separate operating hours for the elderly and other vulnerable customers, and comply with the social distancing, sanitation and other mitigation measure to protect its employees and the public.

• Pet grooming at a pet salon, store or mobile unit is permitted.

The Critical Industries Hotline continues to be available from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. ET Monday through Friday to respond to business and industry questions about whether a business is considered essential. The center may be reached by calling 877-820-0890 or by emailing covidresponse@iedc.in.gov

Answers to frequently asked questions and instructions to file for COVID-19-related unemployment are available at Unemployment.IN.gov.

A link to the updated Stay-At-Home Order FAQ may be found here: https://www.in.gov/gov/3232.htm Please refer to this FAQ page for guidance and clarifications.

More information may be found at the ISDH website at coronavirus.in.gov and the CDC website at https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html.

Gov. Eric Holcomb has extended his executive order requiring Hoosiers to stay-at-home through May 1st, but the new order does relax some restrictions.

Holcomb said that the new order would allow for some elective surgeries and other medically necessary procedures to begin again, as long as sufficient amounts of personal protective equipment are available.

The order also clarified permitted outdoor activities to include yard work, gardening and lansdscaping at both residential and business properties. It also clarifies that nurseries and garden centers to remain open as long as social distancing is maintained. Those businesses also should limit hours of operation, allow separate shopping hours for the elderly or vulnerable and comply with other measures to protect employees and the public.

Holcomb said opening up the entire state will be a methodical process making sure we have the medical capabilities in place to do it safely. He has been consulting with business groups and that has been a consistent message, he said.

Holcomb credited Hoosiers with their efforts that has helped slow the spread of the coronavirus.

The entire executive order is available here. 

A Columbus man suspected of breaking into vehicles downtown was found early this morning carrying a camera stolen from a vehicle.

Columbus police say that an officer on an extra patrol downtown noticed a vehicle with the trunk left open in the 400 block of Third Street, and saw a man leaving the area on a bicycle at about 5:20 this morning.

The owner of the vehicle said a camera was missing and police soon caught up with the bicyclist, 31-year-old Ryan M. Melloh of Columbus. A search recovered the missing camera in his backpack and methamphetamine in his clothing. He was arrested on preliminary charges of theft and possession of methamphetamine.

Seymour police are investigating a series of vehicle break-ins in the Emma Drive and Holiday Drive areas.

After canvassing the neighborhood, officers retrieved several captured surveillance camera images of a person of interest pulling on door handles in the area.

He is described as a slender white male traveling on foot. He appears to be in his 20’s approximately 6’2 160 lbs. He is wearing distinctive shoes and clothing and a skull bandana as shown in the surveillance footage. if you can identify him you should contact Seymour Police Department at 812 522-1234 . Or call the Seymour police dispatchers if you observe him in the area.

Some Decatur County residents with symptoms can take part in drive-through COVID-19 testing today through Wednesday.

The Decatur County Health Department is announcing that the free testing will be available from 9 to 6 at the Decatur County Extension office parking lot. The testing is being done in conjunction with the Indiana State Department of Health and the Indiana National Guard. According to the Indiana State Department of Health, criteria for testing are you must be symptomatic; healthcare workers, first responders, essential workers/family of essential workers or at-risk individuals and they must be Indiana residents.

The Indiana State Department of Health reports that as of yesterday Decatur has had 168 positive test results for COVID-19 and has had 18 deaths, an increase of 1 death since Friday.

Our Hospice of South Central Indiana is further restricting visitors at its in-patient facility in Columbus. While it has been possible to visit those in hospice care, the hospital announced that as of last Friday it was discontinuing allowing any face-to-face visitations.

Hospice staff said that they were making the change because they are now admitting patients who are either confirmed as having COVID-19 or who have confirmation pending.

Instead of in-person visits, family members can visit by phone or by computer. Or staff will organize a patio visit, where two visitors at a time can visit with a patient through a glass patio door.

Laura Leonard, president of Our Hospice, said that they realize that it is not the same as being able to visit in person with a dying loved one, but the change is being made to protect the staff and patients and to prevent the further spread of the disease in the community.