6 months of COVID-19: A timeline

September 11, 2020

Click here to read a story about how COVID-19 has played out over the last six months in Dubois County.

Timeline

March 6

1st COVID-19 case in Indiana

The state announces the first positive COVID-19 case in the state in a Marion County resident.

March 12

Canceled events
Local and state entities begin canceling events, such as Indiana State School Music Association events and 4-H activities.

March 13

Marlena Sloss/The Herald
Fr. Christian Raab, left, prays with Saint Meinrad Seminary and School of Theology seminarians at the Monte Cassino Shrine in St. Meinrad on Friday, March 13. The seminarians prayed the rosary while making a pilgrimage from the archabbey for those affected by the coronavirus pandemic. The seminarians made a similar pilgrimage in 1871 when smallpox threatened the community.

March 13

Schools close
In an effort to curb the spread of the coronavirus, local schools announce they are closing their doors until April 6.

March 16

Bars, restaurants close to in-person patrons
Indiana Gov. Eric Holcomb announces that bars, nightclubs and restaurants are required to close to in-person patrons, but may provide takeout and delivery services.

March 16

State reports 1st death
The state announces the first death in Indiana related to COVID-19.

March 17

County declares disaster
The Dubois County Commissioners enact a local disaster emergency declaration and limit the public’s access to county buildings.

March 19

School closure extended
Gov. Eric Holcomb extends the closure of K-12 schools until May 1.

March 22

1st case in Dubois County
The Dubois County Health Department announces the first confirmed COVID-19 case in the county.

March 23

Stay-home order
Gov. Eric Holcomb delivers a statewide address to order that Hoosiers remain in their homes except when they are at work or for permitted activities, such as taking care of others, obtaining necessary supplies, and for health and safety. His order also states that Hoosier businesses deemed non-essential close.

March 24

Marlena Sloss/The Herald
Dwight Giddens of Schnellville grocery shops with a face mask and gloves during the senior shopping hour for those over age 60 and most at risk at Holiday Foods in Jasper on Tuesday, March 24. “The way it’s going all over the world, people are dying,” Giddens said. “They say to take all the precautions.”

April 1

1st case in Spencer County
The Spencer County Health Department announces the first positive COVID-19 case in Spencer County.

April 2

School closure extended again
Gov. Eric Holcomb signs an executive order closing K-12 schools for in-person instruction through the remainder of the school year.

April 17

Stay-home order extended
Gov. Eric Holcomb extends the stay-home order to May 1.

April 18

Marlena Sloss/The Herald
Tom Spangler of Jasper, left, and his wife, Penny, wave to their great-granddaughter, Carter Snyder, 11 months, held by their granddaughter, Abbey Snyder, after dropping off a plate of muffins at Abbey’s home in Huntingburg on Saturday, April 18. The Spanglers had been visiting their grandchildren and dropping off food instead of eating a weekly meal together like they did before social distancing.

April 23

Job losses
Indiana totals about 515,000 jobless claims during a five-week period.

May 1

5-stage reopening plan
Gov. Eric J. Holcomb announces the Back On Track Indiana plan — a 5-stage plan — to safely reopen the state’s economy.

May 6

Testing site
An OptumServe Health Services COVID-19 testing site opens at the National Guard Armory in Jasper.

May 11

1st death in Dubois County
The Dubois County Health Department announces the first death of a Dubois County resident due to COVID-19.

May 13

Marlena Sloss/The Herald
Thirty-six-year-old Laura Wendholt stands for a portrait at her home in Jasper. Wendholt shared her story with The Herald about being diagnosed with COVID-19 in April and the long, slow road to recovery.

May 14

Farbest announces cases
Farbest Foods confirms more COVID-19 cases at its Huntingburg plant. The company ended up testing all employees at the plant after 42 confirmed cases at the location. Following testing, the company had 101 confirmed cases.

May 22

Kayla Renie/The Herald
Southridge High School graduate Grace Middleton waves to community members gathered for the school's graduation parade to honor the class of 2020 in Huntingburg on Friday, May 22.

June 12

Kayla Renie/The Herald
Tyson Hunter, 12, top right, and his cousins, Lennon Erny, 6, Jillian Erny, 4, Rue Erny, 1, and Porter Beach, 6, all of Jasper, lay in a tunnel together at Lions Riverview Park in Jasper on Friday, June 12. The playground opened to the public that day for the first since since closing in March due to the COVID-19 pandemic. "We used to always drive by and feel sad because it was closed," said Britni Erny, Lennon, Rue and Jillian's mom. "It feels good to finally have the kids be able to come back and play together again."

July 1

State pauses reopening
Gov. Eric Holcomb pauses the state’s reopening plans because of worries about a possible increase in coronavirus cases across the state.

July 14

Schools share plans
Local schools release plans that have students returning to in-person instruction on Aug. 12.

July 22

Marlena Sloss/The Herald
Howard Scott of Jasper gets his hair cut by Southern Roots Salon Owner Jenna Faulkenberg at the salon in Jasper on Wednesday, July 22. Scott believes a mask mandate is necessary, especially in light of the recent increase in COVID-19 cases. "One more year until retirement, I'd like to make it to retirement," Scott said.

July 22

Dubois County considered hot spot
Due to an uptick in COVID-19 cases, Dubois County is No. 1 in the state for the number of cases per capita detected as positive in the past seven days, making the county a hot spot for the virus.

July 27

Mask mandate
A statewide face mask mandate goes into effect in an effort to slow the spread of COVID-19.

Aug. 12

Marlena Sloss/The Herald
On the first day of school on Wednesday, Aug. 12, School Social Worker Melanie Krueger, left, checks the temperature of Jasper Elementary School kindergartner Emmett Dubon as his father, William, holds him for support outside the school in Jasper. Parents are not allowed inside the school this year due to COVID-19 precautions, so William parted with Emmett at the temperature check.