TOP STORY OF THE DAY: COVID-19 Testing site coming to area, cases rise to 27

Clay County Health Department’s Public Health Nurse Kim Hyatt was happy to announce some good news regarding the local COVID-19 outbreak late Wednesday.

https://www.coronavirus.in.gov/

Hyatt said details are currently being arranged for a drive-thru testing site from the Indiana State Department of Health to come to the county.

https://www.coronavirus.in.gov/

Hyatt announced the date scheduled is May 21-24, from 9 a.m.-6 p.m. The location for this testing site is currently Forest Park, but complete arrangements are not finished. Hyatt confirmed more details would be released very soon.

https://www.coronavirus.in.gov/

“People will have to provide valid identification,” Hyatt said about the upcoming free testing for COVID-19. “It’s being planned for Memorial Weekend, and there will be information released as soon as

https://www.coronavirus.in.gov/

With the rise in testing throughout the state, the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases rose in Clay County to 27 Thursday. The previous total of 24 held steady for a week.

https://www.coronavirus.in.gov/

Two of the new cases are recovering at home, and one is hospitalized. Of the remaining patients diagnosed with COVID-19, seven remain in self-isolation at home while recovering. The other 10 COVID-19 cases confirmed since March have recovered, with one death reported on April 20.

https://www.coronavirus.in.gov/

The ISDH has been publishing information about Probable Deaths from COVID-19 – which the ISDH defines as a death where a patient had no testing performed, but are considered suspicious by doctors. Hyatt said there has been testing performed locally at the request of medical personal after a death that might have been COVID-19 related. However, Hyatt explained, if a test came back positive, it is included in the county data. The local health department, at this time, has not received any data about Probable Deaths.

https://www.coronavirus.in.gov/

However, ISDH currently lists 138 Probable Deaths to COVID-19 throughout the state.

https://www.coronavirus.in.gov/

Further details about patients diagnosed with COVID-19 are not released due to the federal Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA).

https://www.coronavirus.in.gov/

Local health officials confirm 381 Clay County residents have been tested as of May 14.

Information provided by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention - www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/cases-updates/cases-in-us.html

Information provided by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention - www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/cases-updates/cases-in-us.html

Information provided by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention - www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/cases-updates/cases-in-us.html

www.who.int/health-topics/coronavirus