HANCOCK COUNTY — Gov. Eric Holcomb ordered Hoosiers Monday to remain in their homes, except for permitted activities, in the ongoing effort to fight the spread of COVID-19.
The order, which came as Hancock County recorded its first confirmed cases in residents, persuaded more businesses in the county to shut their doors and brace for the weeks ahead.
Exceptions to Holcomb’s stay-at-home order include work deemed essential; taking care of others; and getting necessary supplies and for health and safety. The order, stretching 10 pages, listed several dozen work categories that are exempt from the new restrictions. But it stressed that organizations should do everything possible to allow people to work from home and restrict interactions with others. The order built on Holcomb’s previous orders issued over the past two weeks to limit activity.
The order is in effect from 11:59 p.m. today (March 24) until 11:59 p.m. April 6. You can read the order here.
The Indiana State Department of Health, meanwhile, recorded the first two positive COVID-19 cases in Hancock County residents on Sunday, March 22. By Monday, the state had added a third to Hancock County’s total and tallied statewide sums at 259 positive cases, seven deaths and 1,960 tests submitted to the state health department.
Crystal Baker, office manager for the Hancock County Health Department, said all three Hancock County residents who have tested positive are isolating at home.
“Our positive cases do not fit, so far, the elderly demographic,” Baker said, adding everyone needs to be diligent about staying home when they’re sick and only going out to do essential activities.
Baker added the county health department has not linked any of Hancock County residents’ positive cases to one another. She said she does not think any of the cases are linked to a Greenfield Intermediate School teacher who tested positive for COVID-19, who is not a Hancock County resident, but that she could not confirm.
The health department responds to positive cases by tracking down those who have recently been in close contact with those who have tested positive. COVID-19 is believed to spread through respiratory droplets released through sneezes and coughs. Baker said those contacts need to quarantine for 14 days from their exposure to the positive case and monitor their temperatures and other symptoms they may develop. COVID-19 symptoms include fever, cough and shortness of breath.
Baker said while the health department is tracking the number of Hancock County residents in quarantine, she did not know what the total was as of Monday afternoon.
Holcomb also issued an executive order Monday directing state and local boards of health and the Indiana Alcohol and Tobacco Commission to take all available administrative and enforcement actions against establishments continuing to offer in-house dining services. Fines will be levied and liquor licenses will be suspended if in-house services continue. Restaurants can continue carry-out operations, however.
The governor relaxed the sale of carryout alcoholic beverages for dining establishments as well, including those that allow on-premises consumption only and those with carryout permits dependent on a percentage of on-premises sales.
Holcomb’s order that all businesses, except for those designated as essential, close and that Hoosiers remain at home except to run essential errands has caused the closure of some Hancock County businesses that planned to stay open. Beginning Wednesday, March 25, they’ll have to shut their doors.
“It’s a two-week vacation that none of us want,” said Jeffrey Harris, owner of Ye Olde Head Shoppe Salon & Spa in Greenfield.
Harris said everyone working at the salon had been taking extra precautions to ensure their equipment and work spaces were clean, and that the executive order would deal a definite financial blow.
“It’s definitely going to impact us, there’s no doubt about that, because we are all independent contractors,” Harris said. Without customers coming in, the stylists who rent space from Harris will have no way of making income.
Harris, who planned to remain open until the executive order was issued, said his objective was to serve as many customers as possible. To that end, the salon will remain open until midnight on Tuesday.
Harris said politicians were likely doing their best to respond to the crisis, but that he hoped they were considering the perspectives of people who will lose money as a result of the orders to stay at home.
“I think they’re all trying, but they don’t sit on our side of the fence. They don’t know what it’s like,” Harris said.
Frances Hull, the owner of Hometown Comics in Greenfield, had planned to keep her business open until the executive order was issued on Monday. Now, she will remain open until 10 p.m. Tuesday to give customers as much opportunity as possible to come in.
“It’s a little scary,” Hull said. “If it’s longer than two weeks, it could be a pretty harsh reality.”
Hull said she understood the need to take action, even though Holcomb’s orders could have a major impact on her business.
“I have to assume that with all the information he does have, it must be the right call,” she said.
Other businesses, deemed essential for the state to continue functioning, are staying open. Businesses designated as essential include stores that sell food and medicine, pharmacies and other health care providers, hotels and motels, and financial services institutions, among a number of others.
David Bush, the owner of Medicap Pharmacy in Greenfield, said his business would remain open for the duration of the crisis.
“For us, the important thing is to wait on the customers that we have,” Bush said. “We don’t want people to be out of insulin or other life-saving medications.”
Medicap Pharmacy has closed its lobby, remaining open to drive-through customers only, and all employees are utilizing personal protective equipment including masks and gloves.
“We’re doing what we can with what we’ve got,” Bush said.
Additionally, all state government offices, including bureau of motor vehicles branches, will be closed starting today (March 24) until at least April 7. State employees will work remotely when possible and continue providing core functions online and via phone. All public safety functions will continue.
Steve Long, CEO of Hancock Regional Hospital, said in a video posted Monday by the county’s emergency management department that Holcomb’s order recognizes the gravity of the crisis.
“The governor’s order really lends some credence to what we’ve known all along, that this disease is real, it is spreading and we have a period of time where we can really make a difference.”
Long said that people need to continue to do common-sense things, such as maintaining distance from others and washing hands frequently. People who think they might be sick should call their doctor or the call the hospital’s hotline: 317-325-2683. They’re awaiting results on 20 other tests.
Sheriff Brad Burkhart said the community must work together.
“We really need your help to help us,” Burkhart said on the video, which is posted to the Hancock County Emergency Management Facebook page. “We’re out here trying to do the best we can on the public safety end of it.”
Burkhart said people should heed the governor’s order.
“What we’d like for you to do is stay put as much as possible,” Burkhart said. “That would really help us with our jobs if you would just do that.”
The state announced it will open a hotline today to field industry questions about Holcomb’s stay-at-home executive order. The hotline, which will be for business and industry questions only, will open at 9 a.m. to help guide businesses and industries with the order. It will be reachable at 877-820-0890 and [email protected].
For more information on Indiana’s coronavirus response, including details of which businesses and which travel are deemed essential, visit in.gov/coronavirus.
Kristy Deer of the Daily Reporter staff contributed to this story.
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Indiana COVID-19 data as of 11:59 p.m. March 22
Total positive cases: 259
Total deaths: 7
Total tested: 1,960
Total positive cases in Hancock County: 3
Source: Indiana State Department of Health
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COVID-19 cases in the U.S. as of March 23
Total cases: 33,404
Total deaths: 400
Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
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People who are at higher risk from severe illness
Some people may be at higher risk of getting very sick from COVID-19. This includes:
- Older adults
- People who have serious underlying medical conditions like:
- Heart disease
- Diabetes
- Lung disease
Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
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Stop the spread of germs
Help prevent the spread of respiratory diseases like COVID-19
- Avoid close contact with people who are sick
- Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth
- Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces
- Stay home when you are sick, except to get medical care
- Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds
Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
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You can read Gov. Eric Holcomb’s executive order with the online version of this story at www.greenfieldreporter.com
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