Indiana Has First Coronavirus Death

virus-4915859_1920

INDIANAPOLIS -Indiana has its first death from coronavirus.

A somber Governor Holcomb announced a Marion County resident died from the virus Monday morning at a Community Health Network hospital. Community’s chief physician executive, Ram Yeleti, says the patient was over 60 and had an underlying medical condition. The hospital isn’t releasing additional information.

Community Health Network Hospital Chief Physician executive, Ram Yeleti

Yeleti says the patient’s partner is also hospitalized with the virus. He says they had to be kept apart for health reasons, and exchanged their final messages via iPad.

Holcomb says the death is almost certainly just the first of more to come. State health commissioner Kris Box says the death is yet more proof that the virus can’t be shrugged off. She says it demonstrates that the virus is being spread within Marion County — the patients have no connection to travelers from China or Italy, nor to out-of-town conference attendees who have been linked to some cases.

Holcomb and Box again pleaded with residents to stay home if at all possible as the state tries to “flatten the curve” of the virus’s spread. Right now, they say, the state has enough hospital beds, but Yeleti says there’s a risk of the state’s capacity being overwhelmed. Holcomb says the state has contingency plans if that happens. He’s not offering any specifics, but indicated the Indiana National Guard would play a role.

Hours earlier, Holcomb announced he’s ordering all restaurants and bars shut down except for carryout service, and calling on hospitals to cancel elective surgeries to avoid taking up beds which may become scarce.

For now, the ban on sit-down dining is in effect through the end of March. The State Museum and historic sites are also closing. Holcomb says the state is evaluating further restrictions hourly.

Indianapolis Mayor Joe Hogsett (indy.gov)

Indianapolis Mayor Joe Hogsett is going farther, ordering gyms and movie theaters to close no later than Tuesday morning, and banning gatherings of more than 50 people. Holcomb’s order recommends keeping gatherings below that size.

The Indianapolis order runs for a week, but Hogsett says he’ll ask the City-County Council Monday night to extend it through April 5.

Hogsett has declared a local state of emergency, and issued a travel advisory, urging people to avoid all but essential travel, such as to and from work or the grocery store.

Jennifer McCormick

There’s still no statewide order to close schools. All but 16 public school districts have closed on their own. State school superintendent Jennifer McCormick says some of those 16 are on spring break, and may announce closures before returning. Holcomb says in some cases, schools are concerned about the ripple effect on child care or students who rely on school lunches for at least one decent meal each day. He says the state is reaching out to philanthropic groups to try to fill the gaps.

McCormick says 95-percent of charter schools and 70-percent of private schools have closed.

The Department of Workforce Development is suspending the requirement that people go to WorkOne offices in person to remain eligible for unemployment benefits. And the state has postponed the inaugural Indiana Global Economic Summit, originally scheduled for April 26-28.

 

Image by Vektor Kunst from Pixabay