COVID-19 UPDATES - 13 cases confirmed by Public Health Nurse

Clay County Health Department officials confirmed late Sunday there are now 13 confirmed cases in the county, and nothing new was reported Monday.

The two new cases are hospitalized according to County Health Nurse Kim Hyatt, bringing the hospitalized cases to four, with nine patients in self-isolation at home or have recovered. No additional information is available due to the federal law - Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA).

On March 28, the first case of COVID 19 was announced.

As of noon Monday, the Indiana State Health Department reported 8,236 positive cases among the 6.7 million residents in the state, with 350 deaths. The number of tests in the state is reported at 44,539, with officials saying the numbers are going to continue to rise as more tests are made available, and more laboratories are available to process them, Test results can be processed within 24-48 hours. (Learn more at in.gov.)

Hyatt said a few of the patients she talked to were surprised to find out they tested positive for COVID-19, only experiencing mild symptoms they believed were colds or sinus issues.

“Some people had been home in self-quarantine because they were experiencing an illness, and took the test so they could return to work,” said Hyatt.

Another factor Hyatt discovered while talking to the patients was most experienced a loss of their ability to smell or taste, sometimes both, before becoming sick.

“I have read about some people experiencing that, but didn’t realize it was such a major symptom until talking with the patients. It’s just something people can pay attention too,” she said, explaining it’s challenging to keep up with all the data and research being done for this novel strain of Coronavirus. “They say it’s a fluid situation and it is. Sometimes this data changes within hours of being released. The good thing is there are a lot of specialized people working on this, and they are going to figure it out.”

The public has to do their due diligence in stopping the spread of Coronavirus.

“They say it’s a fluid situation and it is. Sometimes this data changes within hours of being released. The good thing is there are a lot of specialized people working on this, and they are going to figure it out.” Clay County Public Health Nurse Kim Hyatt

Apps that track if a community is staying at home and practicing social distancing - like unacast.com - started releasing data by the end of March. Clay County was initially graded with an F because there was only a 25 percent reduction in mobility by residents, as shown by the GPS systems on cellphones. The grade started warbling between an F and a D March 28 when the first positive case was announced, with the most recent grade posted on April 9 showing a reduction in mobility less than 25 percent when 11 cases were confirmed.

According to the app, on April 9, the overall grade for the state of Indiana was a D, with a 25-40 percent reduction in the average mobility. The highest grade of a B was listed for nine counties, 20 counties had a C, with the remaining 63 counties graded at a D or F.

“If people would just stay home and follow the safe handwashing and social distancing techniques, health officials could get a handle on this,” Hyatt said. “We need people to continue to do what we all have been told to do. We can get this under control.”

Social distancing is not intended for a person to become socially isolated, but it can cause anxiety and depression because of the disruption of life, school, and work as well as daily activities. Struggling with isolation and dealing with the fear of the unknown due to the pandemic doesn’t mean a person has to be alone.

“We live in a technological time right now. We have all these various types of technology at our disposal, and we can use them to be social in a different way,” said Hyatt, who adds it is a perfect time to reconnect with our family and friends. “The biggest pieces of advice I can provide - besides social distancing and wash your hands - is to try and maintain your normal routine of life as much as possible. Not only for adults but for the children as well. While technology is great, turn it off during the day. We spend too much time with it.”

Limits of television time, especially watching national and local news coverage of the COVID-19 response, and the amount of time spent on social media, are a good thing.

“This time at home with your family can be a terrific way to get to know each other better and engage in family activities,” Hyatt said.

Up to date list of events affected:

The Clay County Redevelopment Commission meeting scheduled for Wednesday, April 15 at 6 p.m. has been canceled.

The Knightsville Town Board Meeting for April 14 has been canceled.

The Clay County Health Department has confirmed 13 cases of COVID-19 in Clay County.

The Loyalty Day Parade has been canceled.