COVID-19 LOCAL UPDATES

The COVID-19 outbreak has caused many local events to be canceled or postponed to help limit the spread of the virus. This information was made available to The Times as of press time Tuesday, March 17:

The Brazil Times’ closed their office lobby, located at 531 East National Avenue, at 4 p.m. Tuesday for public safety. Our staff will be available from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. to answer calls at 812-446-2216 because it’s business as usual. Log onto www.thebraziltimes.com to keep up-to-date.

COUNTY UPDATES

• Veterans Office in the Clay County Courthouse will operate by “appointment only” until further notice. Call 812-448-9015 or email hollandm@claycountyin.gov for appointments, All rides to VA appointments are canceled until further notice. The Loyalty Day Luncheon is canceled for May 2nd.

• The Eliza Riley Stacey Chapter of Daughter’s of American Revolution special program for March 26 has been canceled at this time. Details about rescheduling this program and whether the April meeting will be announced.

• The National Day of Prayer event scheduled for Friday, April 24 has been postponed at this time. Details will be announced at a later date about rescheduling.

• The Center Point United Methodist Church Food Pantry for March has been canceled. Details regarding the April date will be announced.

• The 2020 Northview High School prom that was to be held at Saint Mary-of-the-Wood’s on April 24th has been canceled.

• Children who receive weekend food at their school through the Youth Food Program during the school year can pick up their package starting Monday, March 16 at the Clay County YMCA anytime the facility is open. Currently, the hours are 5 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 5 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Friday, 7 am to 5 pm on Saturday and 12 pm to 5 pm on Sunday. The Y is located at 225 E Kruzan St, Brazil, IN.

• Habitat of Clay County canceled the annual fish fry on April 18, due to the Corona Pandemic. Please pass this information along.

• The Center Point Masonic Lodge #597 ham & bean dinner scheduled for March 28th has been postponed. Further information to be announced at a later date.

• All Brazil Public Library programs are postponed until further notice.

STATE UPDATES

• The Indiana Law Enforcement Academy (ILEA) in Plainfield has, out of an abundance of caution, decided to suspend its operations in an attempt to keep its staff, students and visitors safe during this COVID-19 outbreak.

• Indiana will adhere to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for large events and mass gatherings. The guidance recommends no in-person events of more than 50 people. Bars, nightclubs and restaurants are required to close to in-person patrons and may provide take-out and delivery services through the end of March.

• Hoosiers feeling distressed or anxious due to the pandemic call the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s Disaster Distress Helpline at 800-985-5990. This hotline provides live crisis counseling and is toll-free, multi-lingual and confidential. A text option is also available: Text “TalkWithUs” to 66746 to connect with a trained crisis counselor.

• Hospitals and ambulatory surgical centers should cancel and/or postpone elective and non-urgent surgical procedures immediately. This action will help the healthcare system conserve resources and personnel necessary to meet emerging health needs. Physicians should continue to perform critical procedures necessary to prevent short-term and/or long-term adverse effects to their patients’ overall health.

• The Department of Workforce Development (DWD) has suspended rules requiring certain unemployment insurance claimants to physically appear at a Work One location to engage in reemployment services for the next four weeks. This will ensure that individuals who may be symptomatic do not have to physically appear to continue their unemployment insurance eligibility