Total nears 5,000

For the second time in three days, the state’s case count went up by more than 500.

Indiana had 503 new confirmed cases of COVID-19 as of this morning’s update, bringing its count to 4,944.

The state had increases of 516 and 488, respectively, in Saturday and Sunday’s reports.

Those numbers include a third case of COVID-19 confirmed in Jay County over the weekend. The county’s first confirmed case was reported Tuesday evening.

Delaware County now was 40 confirmed cases and one death while Darke County, Ohio, has 32 cases and five deaths. Darke County General Health District reported Sunday that 27 of its cases are associated with Greenville Health and Rehabilitation.

Case counts in other counties in the area are as follows: Mercer – 7; Randolph – five; Blackford – four; Adams – two; Wells – two. There are only three counties — Benton, Pike and Perry — in Indiana without a confirmed case. Marion County (Indianapolis) is home to nearly 40 percent of the state’s cases.

Ohio’s case totals climbed to 3,739 in Saturday’s report and 4,043 Sunday. Indiana has had 139 deaths thus far, and Ohio has had 119.

Health officials continue to indicate the actual number of cases is likely much higher because testing for COVID-19 is still limited.

Indiana Gov. Eric Holcomb said last week he would extend the state’s stay-at-home order by two weeks.

That move would push the order through April 21, with Holcomb expected to make it official today.

Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine last weekend extended Ohio’s stay-at-home order through May 1.

In response to the pandemic, Jay School Corporation is also partnering with local residents and businesses to provide cloth face masks after last week’s updated guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommended wearing one when in public.

Anyone who can sew masks is asked to bring them to Jay County High School’s main entrance between 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesday. Family and consumer science teachers are also sewing masks at JCHS.

CDC guidance on how to make the masks is available at bit.ly/CDCfacemasks.

The school corporation will wash the masks and distribute them in an effort to get them to any Jay County resident who wants one.

Riley Children’s Foundation is seeking donations toward a new fund that will provide emergency assistance to families of hospitalized children facing additional financial struggles during the coronavirus pandemic. The Riley Relief Fund will also provide support for Riley Hospital for Children in Indianapolis during the ongoing public heath emergency, foundation officials said.

Foundation President Elizabeth Elkas said the virus outbreak is pushing many families further into crisis while they are caring for children with complex medical needs.

The first $100,000 donated is being matched by a donation from car dealership owner Bob Butler and his family, the foundation said. Donations can be made at RileyKids.org/Relief.

Maker13 of Jeffersonville is using 3D printing equipment to make face shields for hospitals, with help from community partners. The face shields can extend the lifespan of face masks crucial for protecting medical workers as they treat COVID-19 patients.

Maker13's space was shuttered in March due to the pandemic, but owner John Riley said the workshop was reactivated to help respond to the shortage of personal protective equipment.

“We had a lot of equipment sitting idle,” Riley told the News and Tribune (Jeffersonville). “I wanted to figure out how we could use the 3D lasers and printers, and if we needed to turn on sewing for the face masks. We tried to figure out how to best use the equipment.”

He said the workshop may be able to produce some 2,000 face shields daily.