From Local Sources

The Dubois County Health Department reports that at the forefront of COVID-19 efforts is prevention.

According to a press release form the agency, over the past several days, aggressive measures have been initiated by Gov. Eric Holcomb and the Indiana State Department of Health to minimize the spread of the virus.

There are no confirmed COVID-19 cases in Dubois County, according to the department.

They did not indicate how many people have been tested.

“...It is prudent on our part to implement social distancing to prevent infections of this virus in our local communities,” the press release states.

The Dubois County Health Department has been working closely with Indiana State Department of Health and local officials to continue to monitor and share current information.

According to th erelease, the person-to-person spread of COVID-19 appears to be mainly between people who are in close contact with one another (within about 6 feet) through respiratory droplets when an infected person coughs or sneezes. It also may be possible that the virus can spread from touching a surface that has the virus.

Signs and symptoms include fever, cough and shortness of breath. Existing data suggests older adults and people with underlying health conditions or compromised immune systems are in greater risk.

If you think you have been exposed to COVID-19 and develop a fever and symptoms such as cough or difficulty breathing, call your health care provider for medical advice.

The Dubois County Health Department suggests all citizens take steps to protect themselves. Avoid close contact with people who are sick. Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when you cough or sneeze or use the inside of your elbow. Wash hands with soap and warm water and friction for at least 20 seconds. If you are sick, stay home and away from other people. Clean and disinfect objects and surfaces you touch.

According to the release, the health department will continue to closely work with community partners to monitor and review the situation.

Another release from the deparment riterated the Indiana State Department of Health’s testing guidelines. According to local health department, all testing performed by the state health department is done using these guidelines, which local health providers also follow.

They guidelines are:

1. Patient requiring hospitalization with fever and lower respiratory symptoms, constituting:

• Admission to the hospital due to complications of their acute respiratory illness.

• Negative for other sources of infections (including influenza and RVP, if available in <1 day)

2. Healthcare workers (inpatient, outpatient, nursing home, and other long-term service facilities) who provide direct patient care to at risk patients:

• Symptomatic with fever and lower respiratory symptoms and in their role has potential or unknown exposure to at risk patients.

• Negative for other sources of infections (including influenza and RVP, if available in <1 day)

3. Long-term care facility residents or prison/jail residents and staff (who have direct contact with patients or inmates):

• Symptomatic with fever and respiratory illness and otherwise no known COVID-19 contact.

• Negative for other respiratory illnesses – influenza (RVP if it can be done timely <1 day)