Visitors restricted at Putnam County Courthouse
County leaders have not taken the drastic step of closing Putnam County offices to combat the spread of the COVID-19 virus.
However, officials are now screening visitors to the Putnam County Courthouse to minimize person-to-person interaction as the county awaits its first case of the pandemic.
During a joint meeting late Monday morning, the Putnam County Commissioners and Putnam County Council were joined by most county department heads and several other community leaders as they tried to take the county’s first steps in dealing with the virus.
While many decisions remained to be made by the end of the meeting, the chief outcome was the screening of visitors to the courthouse.
As part of the response, the only entry door to the courthouse is now on the east side, as it is the only ADA compliant entrance.
Once inside the door, visitors are being asked why they are at the courthouse. If it is something that can be done remotely by phone, email or internet, they are asked to do so.
They will also be screened for symptoms of the illness.
Some individual county departments were already putting plans in place to minimize visitors prior to the special, late-morning meeting.
For example, Putnam Circuit Court Judge Matt Headley explained that all non-essential court cases are either being continued or conducted by video or telephone.
Additionally, the probation department was in the process of converting to phone conferences.
The commissioners asked that all department heads formulate a plan for figuring out how many in-person employees are essential and how many can work from home.
Individual departments may also set up screening processes for entry into their offices.
As of Monday, the county still had no cases of COVID-19 according to the Indiana State Department of Health. However, when asked by a council member, Putnam County Health Department officials revealed that at least one person with a suspect case had been tested and had been instructed to self-isolate while awaiting the results.
“You’re naive if you think it’s not coming to Putnam County and every county in Indiana,” Joni Young of the health department said.
The county will continue to formulate its response to COVID-19, as restricting entrance to the courthouse was just one thing on Commissioner President Rick Woodall’s agenda presented during the meeting.
Among other issues, Woodall also wants to explore the county’s cleaning procedures, what to do with employees who choose to go on vacation to another area, employees’ need for daycare with kids out of school and what to do with sick leave for infected employees.
County leaders will continue to explore the issue as it develops.