March 17, 2020 at 4:40 p.m.
Impact continues to expand
Restaurants close for dine-in; additional restrictions in place
Impact continues to expand
Restaurant dine-in service is closed.
Hospitals put new restrictions in place.
More events have been canceled.
The impact of the coronavirus pandemic continued to expand Monday, the day Indiana recorded its first death from COVID-19.
Indiana Gov. Eric Holcomb ordered that restaurants shut down their dining rooms, limiting their service to carry out and delivery. That order came a day after Gov. Mike DeWine made the same move in Ohio.
Locally, IU Health and Mercer Health put new restrictions in place and Arts Place and local libraries canceled events.
The state’s first death — at a Community Health Network hospital — from the disease was an Indianapolis resident over 60 who had other medical problems.
“To those who think that we may be overreacting, I can assure that you we are not,” Holcomb said. “Indiana is under a public health emergency. We are, no mistake about it, at war with COVID-19.”
DeWine also ordered that Ohio’s primary election, which was scheduled for today, be delayed until June 2. A challenge to that order was filed in court, but was ultimately denied by Ohio Supreme Court.
In addition to the restaurant restrictions from the state level, Jay County Health Department provided new guidance Monday that non-essential gatherings of 50 or more be canceled or postponed. (President Donald Trump later in the day suggested that gathers of 10 or more be eliminated.) Smaller gatherings should be held in places where attendees can remain 6 feet apart and avoid physical contact, the health department added.
Mercer Health in Coldwater, Ohio, put new visitor restrictions into effect Monday.
In general, Mercer Health requests no visitors at its facilities. Exceptions will be made for spouses, significant others, parents, guardians and primary caregivers, but patients will be limited to one visitor at a time. Visitors will only be allowed between 7 a.m. and 6 p.m.
IU Health, which put similar restrictions in place Sunday, on Monday announced the following changes:
•Elective, non-urgent surgeries would be rescheduled in an effort not to overload the healthcare system.
•Primary care, specialty follow-ups, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy and well-child visits for children 2 or older will be conducted virtually or rescheduled.
•Health screenings and elective imaging will be rescheduled.
Well-child visits for children 2 and younger will continue to allow children to complete vaccinations.
After being open Monday, Jay County Public Library and Fort Recovery Public Library announced that they would close to the public beginning today. Dunkirk Public Library was closed Saturday through today, with the library board to meet tonight to discuss the library’s status moving forward.
Patrons can check out materials such as e-books via the library websites. (See Wednesday’s newspaper for an extensive story about free online resources.)
Arts Place in Portland announced Monday that all events at the facility have been canceled through April 5, including the Regional Student Art Exhibit reception scheduled for April 2 and Dave Bennett’s Swing to Rock concert April 3. The facility will remain open for its exhibits and some instructional activities.
East Central Indiana Small Business Development Center, which serves Jay County, is seeking to gather information from small businesses to facilitate help through the Small Business Administration Economic Injury Disaster Loan program. Any business that has been impacted by the coronavirus pandemic should fill out the form at isbdc.org/indianacovid19smallbusiness. The information will be used to help the state request federal funding and to identify the areas of greatest need.
Ivy Tech Community College announced that all of its courses will be online for the remainder of the semester, beginning Monday. Ivy Tech facilities will remain open to provide access to computer labs as well as advising and financial aid services.
Catholic Bishops of Ohio decided Monday to suspend all publicly celebrated masses and liturgies through at least Easter. They released Catholics in Ohio from the obligation of attending Mass.
Hospitals put new restrictions in place.
More events have been canceled.
The impact of the coronavirus pandemic continued to expand Monday, the day Indiana recorded its first death from COVID-19.
Indiana Gov. Eric Holcomb ordered that restaurants shut down their dining rooms, limiting their service to carry out and delivery. That order came a day after Gov. Mike DeWine made the same move in Ohio.
Locally, IU Health and Mercer Health put new restrictions in place and Arts Place and local libraries canceled events.
The state’s first death — at a Community Health Network hospital — from the disease was an Indianapolis resident over 60 who had other medical problems.
“To those who think that we may be overreacting, I can assure that you we are not,” Holcomb said. “Indiana is under a public health emergency. We are, no mistake about it, at war with COVID-19.”
DeWine also ordered that Ohio’s primary election, which was scheduled for today, be delayed until June 2. A challenge to that order was filed in court, but was ultimately denied by Ohio Supreme Court.
In addition to the restaurant restrictions from the state level, Jay County Health Department provided new guidance Monday that non-essential gatherings of 50 or more be canceled or postponed. (President Donald Trump later in the day suggested that gathers of 10 or more be eliminated.) Smaller gatherings should be held in places where attendees can remain 6 feet apart and avoid physical contact, the health department added.
Mercer Health in Coldwater, Ohio, put new visitor restrictions into effect Monday.
In general, Mercer Health requests no visitors at its facilities. Exceptions will be made for spouses, significant others, parents, guardians and primary caregivers, but patients will be limited to one visitor at a time. Visitors will only be allowed between 7 a.m. and 6 p.m.
IU Health, which put similar restrictions in place Sunday, on Monday announced the following changes:
•Elective, non-urgent surgeries would be rescheduled in an effort not to overload the healthcare system.
•Primary care, specialty follow-ups, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy and well-child visits for children 2 or older will be conducted virtually or rescheduled.
•Health screenings and elective imaging will be rescheduled.
Well-child visits for children 2 and younger will continue to allow children to complete vaccinations.
After being open Monday, Jay County Public Library and Fort Recovery Public Library announced that they would close to the public beginning today. Dunkirk Public Library was closed Saturday through today, with the library board to meet tonight to discuss the library’s status moving forward.
Patrons can check out materials such as e-books via the library websites. (See Wednesday’s newspaper for an extensive story about free online resources.)
Arts Place in Portland announced Monday that all events at the facility have been canceled through April 5, including the Regional Student Art Exhibit reception scheduled for April 2 and Dave Bennett’s Swing to Rock concert April 3. The facility will remain open for its exhibits and some instructional activities.
East Central Indiana Small Business Development Center, which serves Jay County, is seeking to gather information from small businesses to facilitate help through the Small Business Administration Economic Injury Disaster Loan program. Any business that has been impacted by the coronavirus pandemic should fill out the form at isbdc.org/indianacovid19smallbusiness. The information will be used to help the state request federal funding and to identify the areas of greatest need.
Ivy Tech Community College announced that all of its courses will be online for the remainder of the semester, beginning Monday. Ivy Tech facilities will remain open to provide access to computer labs as well as advising and financial aid services.
Catholic Bishops of Ohio decided Monday to suspend all publicly celebrated masses and liturgies through at least Easter. They released Catholics in Ohio from the obligation of attending Mass.
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