County up to 18 COVID-19 cases

Sunday, April 5, 2020

Putnam County saw an increase of one confirmed COVID-19 case between Saturday and Sunday, officials announced Sunday afternoon.

Currently, there are 18 confirmed cases in Putnam County, up from 17 reported by local officials on Saturday afternoon, as well as what the Indiana State Department of Health (ISDH) reported Sunday morning.

The ISDH has begun sharing the number of individuals who have been tested on its website. According to the ISDH, the number of tests is provisional and reflects only those reported to ISDH. Numbers should not be characterized as a comprehensive total.

(Read below for more information on ISDH data revealed Sunday morning.)

Additional updates include:

• Mental health resources for county residents. Putnam County Hospital’s team is sharing resources to help the community navigate these challenging times. Visit www.pchosp.org to learn more.

• Putnam County Hospital has created a COVID-19 hotline: The hotline is staffed from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m., seven days a week. Citizens can call the hotline at 765-301-7019 to speak to a healthcare provider to address questions or concerns about the virus.

• Citizens should adhere to the CDC guidelines: Practice social distancing when picking up groceries, getting gas or picking up prescriptions. A distance of six feet is required by the CDC. Visit www.cdc.gov for more information.

• The CDC has updated guidance on who is high-risk for COVID-19: Visit the Putnam County Hospital at www.pchosp.org to learn who is high-risk, and what you should do if you think you have the virus.

A number of preventive steps include:

• Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol.

• Don’t touch your eyes, nose or mouth, especially with unwashed hands.

• Avoid close contact with people who are showing symptoms of illness.

• Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces.

• Cover your cough or sneezes with a tissue or sneeze into your elbow.

• Throw the tissue in the garbage and make sure to clean your hands afterward.

• Stay home when you are sick.

• We are all in this together.

Putnam County is providing regular updates on COVID-19 to citizens as part of its effort to complement the daily updates from the ISDH. The ISDH updates occur at 10 a.m. and can be accessed via www.coronavirus.in.gov.

To learn more about Putnam County’s coordinated response to COVID-19, visit the Putnam County Hospital at www.pchosp.org/covid-19-updates or the Putnam County Health Department at www.putnamhealthindiana.org.

ISDH: Cases in state top 4,000

ISDH reported 464 new cases of COVID-19 on Saturday, bringing the statewide total to 4,411 since the outbreak began in Indiana on March 6.

There were also two new deaths reported on Saturday, bringing the statewide total to 127.

The state also reported 2,895 new tests administered in its latest update, bringing the total number of tests administered to Hoosiers to 22,652.

Of these, 110 have been administered to Putnam County residents, though the numbers are considered provisional.

In neighboring counties, Hendricks County has had 177 positive cases and four deaths, followed by Morgan County with 65 cases and one death.

Among other counties adjacent to Putnam, Owen has had 15 cases, 14 in Montgomery, four in Clay and two in Parke.

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