Columbus Regional Health is partnering with the Mayo Clinic and national blood research institute Versiti for a trial therapy option for COVID-19 patients. The Expanded Access to Convalescent Plasma Program provides plasma that has been gathered from those who have already recovered from the disease to current patients.

Plasma is the liquid portion of blood and it contains antibodies produced to fight off infection. The hope is that antibodies in the recovered patients’ blood may help those fighting the disease now.

According to the hospital it first used this protocol on Tuesday with a critically ill patient. The patient remains in critical condition.

Dr. Raymond Lee Kiser at CRH said the therapy is still considered experimental and it has promise in helping critically ill patients recover from COVID-19.

CRH is looking for donors to take part in the program.  Potential donors who are eligible for the program will be able to donate at a Versiti Blood Bank location in Indianapolis, and their plasma will be used to treat patients in Bartholomew County and surrounding areas.

In order to donate, a person must be at least 18 years of age, weigh at least 110 pounds and meet the following additional requirements:

• Have had a confirmed diagnosis of COVID-19 by physician and laboratory testing
• Must be symptom free for 28 days before being eligible to donate
• If symptom free for 14-27 days, a negative test must be verified

Anyone with questions about the donation process or the Expanded Access Convalescent Plasma Program can contact the COVID-19 Triage Resource Center at 812-379-4449 or visit: crh.org/plasma.

Indiana now has 8,955 total cases of COVID-19 being reported, and has had 436 deaths as of this afternoon’s update, an increase of 49 deaths from yesterday’s numbers.

The Indiana Department of Health reported that Bartholomew County has 113 confirmed cases, up by three cases from yesterday’s report. There have been four deaths so far from the coronavirus in Bartholomew County, which remains unchanged from last week.

In other area counties, Decatur County has 155 cases and has had 13 deaths. Jennings 60 cases and no deaths, Jackson 74 cases and no deaths, Brown 14 cases and 1 death, Johnson 347 and 25 deaths and 79 positive test results in Shelby County and 3 deaths.

Program to help food pantries feed Hoosiers

Indiana residents who need help feeding their families during the COVID-19 pandemic will have greater access to assistance from food banks and pantries through a Disaster Household Distribution program approved by the USDA Food and Nutrition Service (FNS).

The disaster distribution program uses commodity foods from The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP), which is administered by the Indiana State Department of Health (ISDH), and is effective from today through May 14, 2020. The goal is to increase access to food assistance to those in need. Priority will be given to Hoosiers who are suffering significant economic losses.

During the COVID-19 response, food banks and partner agencies have largely shifted to drive-through distributions. Through the DHD program, current TEFAP food banks will use the network of new and existing mobile pantries to distribute food packages to families in need. It is anticipated a total of 250 sites, including mobile pantries, will assist with food distribution throughout the state, primarily in rural areas. Marion County will use Indianapolis Public School buses, community centers and a drive-through location at Gleaners Food Bank to ensure that families have easy access to food resources.

Each household receiving food through this program can receive one prepackaged 25-pound box that includes a variety of foods, including, but not limited to, canned and packaged fruits, vegetables, soups, sauces, noodles, beans, nuts, juices and meats. If frozen and/or refrigerated storage is available at a site, those items also will be distributed.

Individuals should contact their local food bank or pantry to determine whether they are participating in the DHD program. For additional information, please visit wic.in.gov or find a food pantry near you by using Indiana’s food assistance map.

The city of Columbus is partnering with an app maker to make it easier to have your large trash picked up.

The free app, Curb It, will allow you to schedule those occasional pickups of of large items or extra bags of trash. The items must be curbside and then an alert sent through the app will alert city crews that the items need to be removed, said Brian Burton, director of the department of public works.

Burton said that Columbus will be the first customer for the app produced by a Greenwood based company. City staff have been using the app behind the scenes for several months and have successfully scheduled more than 700 pickups using the app, he said.

The app also weeds out hazardous waste or other items, such as TVs that the city does not pick up, instead referring the user to a paid service to remove those.

The Board of Public Works and Safety approved the contract with the company yesterday morning. It will be at no cost to the city or residents. More information will be released on how to sign up and use the service once it is implemented. The estimated start date is in early May.

Bartholomew Consolidated School students will end the school year at home, and earlier than originally expected.

Instead of attending through May 28th as originally scheduled in the school calendar, class will end earlier for most students after a decision last night by the school board. Dr. Jim Roberts, BCSC superintendent explains that they school year’s e-Learning will end on May 21st for most students.

Some high school students will be in class on May 22nd, taking advanced placement tests Roberts said.

Students statewide are required to complete 180 days of instruction in a normal school year. But with the move to online classes, the governor also reduced the number of days to 160. Roberts said that BCSC students will actually exceed that by several days.

The BCSC board met by Zoom conference Monday night.

Indiana now has 8,527 total cases of COVID-19 being reported, and has had 387 deaths as of Tuesday afternoon’s update.

The Indiana State Department of Health reported that Bartholomew County has 110 confirmed cases, unchanged from Sunday. There have been four deaths so far from the coronavirus in Bartholomew County, which remains unchanged from last week. Bartholomew County has had 839 tests done, of which 567 were negative and 111 are still awaiting results.

In other area counties, Decatur County has 153 cases and has had 10 deaths. Jennings 58 cases and no deaths, Jackson 70 cases and no deaths, Brown 13 cases and 1 death, 329 cases in Johnson and 21 deaths and 77 positive test results in Shelby County and 3 deaths.

A victim was seriously injured in a crash in northwestern Bartholomew County yesterday afternoon.

The German Township Volunteer Fire Department reports being called out to County Road 550N and U.S. 31 at about 5:15 p.m. Monday afternoon on a three-vehicle crash where one person had been ejected from a vehicle.

One of the victims was unconscious and seriously injured. That person was transported by IU Lifeline Helicopter to an Indianapolis hospital trauma center.

Two other victims were taken to Columbus Regional Hospital and three victims were treated at the scene for minor injuries.

Edinburgh Fire Department, Bartholomew County deputies and Columbus Regional Hospital medics also worked at the scene of the crash.

German Township Deputy Chief Jacob Goodin stressed the importance of wearing a seatbelt. He said that injuries are much more severe when someone is not wearing a seatbelt. A few seconds spent fastening your seatbelt can save your life and prevent serious injury.

For more information, visit German Township Fire Department on Facebook.