With six positive cases of the coronavirus in Indiana, local health and hospital officials are taking precautions, but urging the public not to panic.
The coronavirus, also know as COVID-19, is a respiratory illness that can cause fever, cough and breathing problems. The new illness has affected more than 116,000 people around the world, with more than 750 cases across more than 30 states in the U.S.
The first case in Indiana was confirmed Friday, when an Indianapolis man who had traveled to Boston for a conference, contracted it. Since then, five other cases have been confirmed in Adams, Boone, Hendricks and Noble counties.
The Johnson County Health Department is following instructions from the state health department when it comes to preparing for the coronavirus, said Dr. Craig Moorman, health officer at the local health department.
[sc:text-divider text-divider-title="Story continues below gallery" ]
There are no positive cases in Johnson County, but a couple people are being monitored at their homes due to possible exposure, Moorman said. Based on their symptoms, it is most likely not COVID-19, he said.
"We’re just being prudent right now," Moorman said. "People need to not overreact right now, and we’ll get through it."
The key message from all health officials is people should wash their hands frequently with soap and water, and not go anywhere if they feel sick, he said.
Local hospitals are preparing for the virus, just as they would any other new illness or the flu, hospital officials said.
Hospitals have protocols in place for dealing with potentially infected patients, and are also implementing visitor restrictions, per instructions from the state health department. The restrictions will be similar to those put in place each year during flu season.
Community Hospital South and Franciscan Health on the southside of Indianapolis plan to "severely" limit visitors. Both hospitals plan to restrict any children under 18 from visiting, and screen all visitors for respiratory illnesses before they enter the building.
"If you’re sick at all and you have a loved one in the hospital, FaceTime them, or you can see them when they get out, but don’t come to the hospital," said Dr. Christopher Doehring, vice president of medical affairs for Franciscan Health.
Johnson Memorial Hospital in Franklin will continue to limit visitors the same as it would during flu season because the illnesses are similar, said Dr. Dave Dunkle, hospital president and CEO. Not adding extra restrictions will prevent further public panic, he said.
"It’s important for healthcare leaders to keep the public from panicking," Dunkle said.
For most people, if they have a healthy immune system, the virus basically causes a bad cold, Doehring said. About 80% of the time, the cases are mild and do not require hospitalization.
"This virus — for the vast majority of people — is not a life-threatening condition," Doehring said. "This is not the Ebola virus."
Still, all three area hospitals are prepared to handle the virus if a patient does need to be hospitalized.
"We feel very equipped to take care of them. Our staff knows how to use infection-prevention protections, so they don’t risk getting the disease," said Dr. Robin Ledyard, chief medical officer for Community Health Network.
Infection-preventing protections for physicians would include wearing a medical gown, gloves and a special tight-fitting mask when they’re near a patient with the coronavirus, Ledyard said.
Franciscan has similar gear, as well as protective goggles, Doehring said.
However, having the gear and isolation rooms at the hospitals is no different from procedures used to treat other illnesses that can be contracted easily, such as tuberculosis or the flu, Dunkle said.
"There are other types of patients who need to be put in isolation too," he said.
If you do think you have the coronavirus, do not go straight to the hospital. The state health department said to call their office and a local healthcare provider first to diagnose any symptoms.
"That tends to be the key, so we can be aware that someone who might have COVID-19 might be coming in," Ledyard said.
The state also said people should not wear masks unless they are actually sick. Officials at both Community Hospital South and Johnson Memorial Hospital reported patients taking excessive amounts of masks provided in the lobbies.
"We have had to move our medical masks," Dunkle said. "We need to make sure we have a supply for the people who truly need the masks."
In addition to hospital restrictions, the Indiana Department of Correction issued visitation restrictions for prisons in the Indianapolis-area.
In Johnson County, all visitation is already digital, and there are no face-to-face meetings, Sheriff Duane Burgess said. Anyone who is arrested is already thoroughly screened for any health problems before entering the jail, he said.
"Dealing with a health issue that can affect multiple people in a jail isn’t anything new to our line of work," Burgess said.
