County COVID update: 1,104 cases since March

Putnam County officials announced Friday that there have been 1104 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the county since March.

Putnam County is currently at a 5.5-percent positivity rate. For a further breakdown of cases, visit www.coronavirus.in.gov.

The positive case number also may include positive cases at the state correctional facility located in Putnam County. To learn more, visit https://www.in.gov/idoc/3780.htm.

Putnam County Hospital continues to offer curbside COVID testing. To schedule an appointment, go to https://scheduling.coronavirus.in.gov If the website is showing that there are no open appointments for the day please call our COVID curbside phone number. Testing hours are Tuesday-Friday 10:00am-6:00pm and Saturday 9:00am-2:00pm. If you have any further questions or if the online scheduling is showing full please call (765) 301-7019. Putnam County Hospital asks that patients arrive no earlier than five minutes before their scheduled test to help with the flow of traffic. When a patient arrives they will follow the COVID-19 testing signs. These signs will direct them to the proper testing area. Please note that the curbside testing will be closed on November 26 and 27. However, the testing site will be open on Monday, November 23.

Update from Putnam Prompt Care

Due to increased number of positive Covid-19 cases in our community and the very limited size of the Putnam Prompt Care waiting room, we will be changing the way patients are admitted to Prompt Care for services. Beginning Monday, November 16, 2020 patients coming to Putnam Prompt Care will need to call the office to register for an immediate appointment from the Hospital parking lot. Prompt Care’s telephone number is 765-301-7030.

For patients who “walk in” - the main hospital front door screening staff will provide a Prompt Care service flyer to the patient and ask them to call the clinic from their vehicle. The patient will be registered over the phone so paperwork will be minimal. Prompt Care staff will communicate directly to waiting patients when there is room available for them. The patient will enter into the hospital and let the screening staff know they were called by Prompt Care to come in for their appointment.

Patients are asked to come alone, with a parent/guardian or with their designated caregiver.

Putnam Pediatrics and Internal Medicine, Family Medicine of Cloverdale, and North Putnam Family Healthcare are requiring that all patients contact the office to make an appointment before visiting the office.

What Holiday precautions should individuals take?

Thanksgiving is just around the corner. The CDC has many helpful resources to ensure your family has a safe and healthy Thanksgiving.

Thanksgiving is a time when many families travel long distances to celebrate together. Travel increases the chance of getting and spreading the virus that causes COVID-19. Staying home is the best way to protect yourself and others. If you must travel, be informed of the risks involved. If you are traveling over the holiday please refer to the CDC recommendations for travel found at https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/travelers/travel-during-covid19.html

Lower risk activities

• Having a small dinner with only people who live in your household

• Preparing traditional family recipes for family and neighbors, especially those at higher risk of severe illness from COVID-19, and delivering them in a way that doesn’t involve contact with others

• Having a virtual dinner and sharing recipes with friends and family

• Shopping online rather than in person on the day after Thanksgiving or the next Monday

• Watching sports events, parades, and movies from home

Moderate risk activities

• Having a small outdoor dinner with family and friends who live in your community

• Lower your risk by following CDC’s recommendations on hosting gatherings or cook-outs.

• Visiting pumpkin patches or orchards where people use hand sanitizer before touching pumpkins or picking apples, wearing masks is encouraged or enforced, and people are able to maintain social distancing

• Attending a small outdoor sports events with safety precautions in place

Higher risk activities

Avoid these higher risk activities to help prevent the spread of the virus that causes COVID-19:

• Going shopping in crowded stores just before, on, or after Thanksgiving

• Participating or being a spectator at a crowded race

• Attending crowded parades

• Using alcohol or drugs, which can cloud judgement and increase risky behaviors

• Attending large indoor gatherings with people from outside of your household

What should you do if you are awaiting test results?

If you have been tested and are awaiting results please remember to follow the necessary precautions to help slow the spread. Here are some helpful tips and reminders from the CDC.

Stay home and away from others:

• Stay away from others while waiting for your COVID-19 test result, especially people who are at higher risk for getting very sick from COVID-19, such as older adults and people with other medical conditions, if possible.

• If you have been around someone with COVID-19, stay home and away from others for 14 days (self-quarantine) after your last contact with that person and monitor your health.

• If you have a fever, cough or other symptoms of COVID-19, stay home and away from others (except to get medical care).

• If you need support or assistance while in self-quarantine, your health department or community organizations may be able to provide assistance.

Monitor your health:

• Watch for fever, cough, shortness of breath, or other symptoms of COVID-19. Remember, symptoms may appear 2-14 days after exposure to COVID-19.

Think about the people you have recently been around. While you wait for your COVID-19 test result, think about everyone you have been around recently. This will be important information to have available.  If your test is positive, someone from the health department may call you to check on your health, discuss who you have been around, and ask where you spent time while you may have been able to spread COVID-19 to others.

The Energy Assistance Program is now accepting applications.

Apply online through EAP Connect https://ihcda.rhsconnect.com/  (Office not open to the public at this time.)

Advantages of applying online:

• Secure website

• Use phone or tablet to easily upload needed documentation (ie: proof of income, ID, SS cards, etc…)

• Follow progress of application

• By opting in for texts/emails you will be notified when account is paid

Mail-in hard copy applications are currently being prepared or the application can be printed from our website at www.wicaa.org .

For income limits and eligibility requirements see our website or IHCDA https://www.in.gov/ihcda/406.htm

Local Food Pantries Available to Help

Check out more information on their Facebook Page at https://m.facebook.com/pages/category/Nonprofit-Organization/Putnam-County-Pantry-Coalition-112239163882801/

Putnam County 360 Coalition COVID-19 Help Request

Do you, or someone you know, need help or support and don’t know where to turn? Do you feel isolated and don’t know who to contact to ask questions? The Putnam County 360 Coalition has developed an online resource to help. Members of the 360 Coalition will help you or direct you to appropriate resources as best as we can to provide the support that you need. REMEMBER: If this is an emergency, please call 911 for assistance.

Please complete the Help Request Form at:

https://bit.ly/2KKL6va or by calling 765-653-4820, then selecting Option 5 during business hours. 

For a message from our local business owners and officials please visit https://drive.google.com/file/d/1zqZJT7go8rSA05FIFiNbGeJnyJPapVkW/view?usp=shari...

What else can I do right now to help prevent the spread of influenza and the flu?

• Avoid close contact. Avoid close contact with people who are sick. When you are sick, keep your distance from others to protect them from getting sick, too.

• Stay home when you are sick. If possible, stay home from work, school and errands when you are sick. This will help prevent you from spreading your illness to others.

• Cover your mouth and nose. Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when coughing or sneezing. It may prevent those around you from getting sick. Flu and other serious respiratory illnesses are spread by cough, sneezing or unclean hands.

• Clean your hands. Washing your hands often will help protect you from germs. If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand rub.

• Handwashing: Clean Hands Save Lives Tips on hand washing and using alcohol-based hand sanitizers

• It’s a SNAP Toolkit: Handwashing Hand washing resources from the It’s a SNAP program, aimed at preventing school absenteeism by promoting clean hands; from the School Network for Absenteeism Prevention, a collaborative project of the CDC, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and the American Cleaning Institute.

• Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth. Germs are often spread when people touch something that is contaminated with germs and then touch their eyes, nose or mouth.

• Wear a mask. Masks can reduce the transmission of all respiratory illnesses, including the flu.

• Practice other good health habits. Clean and disinfect frequently touched surfaces at home, work or school, especially when someone is ill. Get plenty of sleep, be physically active, manage your stress, drink plenty of fluids and eat nutritious food.

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.