SOUTH MADISON COUNTY — Judy Rhoades expressed mixed feelings about the public reaction to COVID-19 and the impact the disease is having on daily life.
“I think it could be very scary,” the Pendleton resident said as she walked her 7-year-old bichon frise, Sophie, through Falls Park on Friday. “I think some people are overreacting and some people aren’t.”
One thing is certain: Public officials and organizations in charge of events or facilities where people congregate are limiting or shutting operations, as federal, state and county officials ask the public to stay home when possible and practice social distancing.
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And as the number of coronavirus cases has climbed in Indiana, along with the second death from the disease announced on Tuesday, a cascade of closings and cancellations has rippled through communities.
In South Madison County, this includes school closings, restricted public access at town offices, corrections facilities and a senior living facility, and cancellations of programs by social groups and public libraries.
“The global outbreak of COVID-19 continues to warrant the attention of each and every one of us as we work together to keep our students, staff, and faculty safe,” said a press release sent out from South Madison Community School Corp. on Friday. “In light of Gov. Eric Holcomb’s request to slow the spread of COVID-19, South Madison Community School Corp. will be closed for students March 14, 2020 through April 12, 2020. This closure includes all academic, co-curricular, extra-curricular activities, facility rentals, and Kids’ Connection.”
Frankton-Lapel Community Schools Superintendent Bobby Fields posted a similar message to the district website.
“Although there are no known cases of COVID-19 virus in the county, after consultation with the Madison County Health Department and the Madison County Task Force, all Madison County Schools have decided to close school from March 16, 2020 through April 13, 2020.”
At Pendleton Community Public Library, Circulation Librarian Ashlety Stout said all of the library’s programs have been canceled but the library remains open to the public during its regular seven-days-per-week business hours.
That, however, is subject to change depending on the spread of the virus, she said.
“We just have to reevaluate as time goes,” she said.
As of Tuesday morning, there hadn’t been a confirmed case in Madison County.
At Rawlins House senior living facility in Pendleton, administrator Chad Covey said Friday the facility is following corporate restrictions that limit visits from most people from outside.
“We are operating under guidelines from Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) and as such we are limiting ALL outside visitors with the exception of rare circumstances, such as immediate family members in end-of-life situations or when it is medically necessary for our resident,” Bloomington-based CarDon and Associates posted at its website.
“All immediate family members who are allowed inside the building for the reasons stated above will be screened … If they meet one or more criteria, they will not be allowed to enter the resident area. They must also perform hand hygiene with soap and water or hand sanitizer.”
Similarly, Indiana Department of Correction, which operates three facilities in Pendleton — Correctional Industrial Facility, Pendleton Correctional Facility and Pendleton Juvenile Correctional Facility — with a combined population of 3,400, also suspended in-person visitation.
“The decision to extend suspension of visitations to all our correctional facilities was made with the primary concern over the health and safety of each offender and all of our staff,” IDOC Commissioner Rob Carter said in a press release.
“While we recognize the importance of in-person visits by friends and family, we cannot afford the risk this poses to potentially introduce the COVID-19 virus into our facilities.
“We are working with our partners at the Indiana State Department of Health to monitor this ongoing threat, and when appropriate to do so, visitation restrictions will be lifted.”
Approved friends and family members of offenders can visit remotely by video. Video visits must be scheduled in advance and are limited to 20 minutes.
Madison County officials have been working with local government agencies to ensure a coordinated response, according to Stephanie Grimes, administrator at Madison County Health Department.
“The (Madison County) Health Department advises all residents of Madison County to follow CDC and state guidance in avoiding public gatherings of 50 or more people, washing hands, covering coughs, and staying home if symptomatic. Symptoms include fever, cough and shortness of breath,” a health department release stated Monday.
In addition, effective March 17, 2020, at 8 a.m., bars, nightclubs and restaurants are required to close to in-person patrons and may provide take-out and delivery services through the end of March.
“Now is not the time to panic,” Grimes said, “but it is the time to make the right decision to keep residents as healthy as possible.”
Pendleton Fire Chief Jeff Moore said local public safety agencies have participated in a county task force set up to determine how to respond to calls involving potential coronavirus cases.
He said when there’s a 911 call for an ambulance, first responders will recognize symptoms that line up with the virus and will take appropriate steps. They can determine the number and type of personnel that respond to the call, and can help determine the protective gear responders don, Moore said.
“We have a couple of different kinds of masks we can wear,” he said.
Collin Loughman, an EMT with Pendleton Emergency Ambulance, said first responders were apprised of new measures via email on Thursday.
“We all got the new protocols,” Loughman said.
Loughman said the ambulance he and driver Brooke Philbert were manning on Friday was stocked with 100 N95 disposable face masks and four heavier duty masks with replaceable cartridges.
They also have protective gowns, should the need arise.
Pendleton Town Council President Chet Babb, who on Monday extended the town’s 10-day declaration of emergency by seven days (ending March 24), said it’s no telling how long the virus measures will remain in place.
“People are realizing it’s more than the flu,” Babb said on Friday. “They’re closing schools, shut down the basketball tournament, shut down March Madness. It’s a serious thing.”
The town declaration closes Pendleton Town Hall to the public and suspends all public town meetings.
Referring to local and county government, Babb said “we’re doing what we need to be doing.”
But, he said, with the return people who traveled during South Madison schools’ regular two-week break, which ends this week, and without widespread virus testing capacity, “how do we know?”
Other local government offices, including Lapel and Ingalls town halls, remained open on Tuesday but were asking residents to avoid in-person transactions if possible.
“Due to the recent outbreak of the COVID-19 virus, the Town of Ingalls is taking measures to help prevent the spread of the virus, both to our employees and the public,” reads a message on the town website. “Please refrain from unnecessary visits to town offices.”
It states utility payments can be made at a dropbox at the town hall 24 hours a day or by phone during business hours.
“Please call first with any questions,” it states. “If it is necessary to come in, please utilize the hand sanitizer provided on the counter. If you are sick or showing signs, please contact the office to see if other arrangements can be made first.”
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Madison County Health Department is working with local agencies and state officials to ensure appropriate steps are taken to protect Madison County residents
Indiana has several presumptive cases of COVID-19
COVID-19 is thought to be spread through respiratory droplets between people in close contact (within 6 feet) when an infected person coughs or sneezes
Symptoms include: fever, cough and shortness of breath
To hep prevent COVID-19 and other respiratory infectious diseases, wash your hands with soap and water, cover your cough, stay away from sick people, and stay home when sick
For more information, visit https://www.in.gov/isdh/28470.htm or call 317-233-7125
Source: madcohealth.org
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