Indiana’s stay-at-home order was extended Friday for two more weeks as the state’s number of coronavirus-related topped 100 with the anticipated illness peak still weeks away.
Gov. Eric Holcomb announced the extension for the order that first took effect March 25 and was set to expire Tuesday.
Holcomb has repeatedly urged residents to avoid unnecessary trips outside their home and to remain at least six feet from those they don’t live with to help stem the virus spread.
Holcomb also said the state received a Major Disaster Declaration for all 92 counties, which gives Indiana access to federal dollars to help fight the COVID-19 pandemic at the local level.
With 24 new deaths reported Friday, it marked the highest single-day increase in fatalities so far, increasing to a 2.9% death rate among those testing positive for COVID-19, said Kristina Box, Indiana health commissioner. Of the 102 Hoosiers who have died from coronavirus-related illnesses, many fatalities have been those with underlying conditions, Box said.
Of 17,835 tests reported to the Indiana State Department of Health or the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 3,437 have been positive for COVID-19. However, that number does not include tests given conducted by private laboratories, Box said.
“Not every test gets reported to us. That is why I have a hard time telling you how many are negative,” Box said.
Since hospitals are having to prioritize who gets tested and beds are limited, about 80% of individuals showing symptoms have been asked to quarantine at home, Box said.
As the Easter season approaches, Box and Holcomb encouraged Hoosiers to socially distance while staying connected. For some, it is hard to be away from family, but Box urged Hoosiers to do so for a while longer.
“These are not normal times and we cannot act as if they are,” Box said.
As the number of positive cases continues to grow, state officials warned the outbreak has not yet reached its peak.
“It is a signal that we are at the start of the surge, but just the start of the surge,” Holcomb said. “I want to underscore how incredibly important it is … that we take care of each other.”
Self-isolating is taking a toll on the mental health of many Hoosiers, said Jennifer Sullivan, secretary of the Indiana Family and Social Services Administration. The agency has “gone into overdrive” to support mental health, Sullivan said.
Phones are ringing off the hook at hotlines for help with gambling, personal crises, suicide and social services, she said.
“It is normal to feel this way,” Sullivan said. “Help—and help that works—is available”
Sullivan asked that those who need help call their doctor, insurance provider or community mental health facility to seek it. Many providers are offering telehealth services, she said.
The Indiana National Guard is engaged in several aspects of coronavirus response, said Dale Lyles, Indiana National Guard Adjutant General.
The guard on Saturday will begin conducting evaluations of potential sites for field hospitals, to increase Indiana’s hospital bed capacity in hot-spot areas if the need arises, Lyles said.
<em>The Associated Press contributed to this report.</em>
