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Hospital to ease visitor restrictions Monday
Putnam County officials announced Friday that there have been 152 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the county.
Putnam County Hospital is lifting visitor restrictions as of Monday, June 15.
All patients and visitors should be screened for the following: Do you have a new cough, fever, shortness of breath, sore throat, vomiting, diarrhea, chills or new loss of sense of smell or taste?
Patients answering “yes” should be masked and allowed to access the building for treatment.
Visitors answering “yes,” will not be permitted to access the building. They should be advised to follow up with their primary care provider, go to Prompt Care or ED.
All guests are required to wear a mask while in the facility. If they do not have one, the facility will provide one for them.
COVID-19 Suspected or Confirmed Patients:
• Visitation to the COVID Unit is restricted.
• Information for a family contact should be obtained upon admission. The designated contact may call nursing for updates on patient condition.
• Each day between the hours of 12:30 and 4 p.m., the hospitalist will contact the designated family spokesperson with an update on patient condition.
• At the patient’s request, FaceTime calls can be made using hospital provided devices if the patient did not bring a personal device with them.
• In the event of an emotional support patient need or end of life situation, the attending provider may approve one visitor. The visitor must pass the screening requirements. If screening requirements are not met, the visitor will not be allowed access to visit.
One Visitor Allowed in the Following Circumstances:
• ED – 1 visitor
• Outpatient Surgery – 1 visitor
• Inpatient Surgery – 1 visitor
Two Visitors Allowed in the Following Circumstances:
• Non-COVID-19 Units (including ICUs)
• End of life/Comfort Care
• No visitors allowed under the age of 18 (age restriction does not apply in end of life situations)
• Hours of Visitation – 11 a.m.-7 p.m. (does not apply in end of life situations)
Additional updates:
• The Putnam County Health Department also reiterated that the OptumServe testing site will remain open until June 27. COVID-19 testing, offered free of charge, is available for high-risk Hoosiers showing symptoms of COVID-19 or in direct contact with someone who has the virus.
Effective June 22, the testing site will move from its current location at the Putnam County Fairgrounds Community Building to right next door at Harris Hall.
Visit https://pchosp.org/testing-site-opens-may-13/ to learn who should be tested. Registration is required at https://lhi.care/covidtesting or (888) 634-1116. Testing is available Monday through Friday.
• You may hear from the State’s contractor for contact tracing if you have come into contact with an individual who tests positive at the OptumServe test site. Expanded contact tracing is critical to stopping the spread of the virus into the community. Be alert for emails or text messages that come from a different area code. Don’t ignore these messages.
• The National Night Out event has been canceled for the 2020 year. The National Night Out committee will be working with other organizations across the county to help get school supplies to those in need in the community. They look forward to an amazing 2021 event.
• Greencastle playgrounds and the Bob York Splash Park opened Friday. The drive-up window for utility payments will be opening Monday, June 15.
• Greencastle MusicFest scheduled for Aug. 21 and 22 is still going on as scheduled. The committee will continue to monitor and follow all of the recommended CDC and state guidelines.
• Bring a mask from home when out in public and wear it. Practice social distancing, too.
Contact Putnam County’s Masked Mommas if you need a mask. Our dedicated community volunteers have made and distributed thousands of masks. Visit https://www.facebook.com/Putnam-County-Mask-Mommas-Sew-Serve-100134314992282/ for a mask.
It is imperative individuals take action to avoid COVID-19 to prevent its spread. 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 percent 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 afterwards
• Stay home when you are sick
• Wear face coverings in public when performing essential duties
• 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 Indiana State Dept. of Health. The updates can be accessed via www.coronavirus.in.gov.
To learn more about Putnam County’s coordinated response to COVID-19, please visit the Putnam County Hospital at www.pchosp.org/covid-19-updates or the Putnam County Health Department at www.putnamhealthindiana.org.