Police and firefighters are currently searching for 23-year-old Heron Phillips.
According to Indiana State Police Sgt. Michael Allen of the Jasper Post, Phillips was last seen wearing an orange-reddish sweater and green pants and sandals.
He has blonde hair and stubble of a beard on his face.
Phillips has autism and is missing. He was last seen around 6:30 p.m. in the 6140 blocks of South County Road 325 East in Hardinsburg.
Firefighters from Orange, Crawford, and Washington counties along with Indiana State Police troopers and officers from several area police departments are searching for Phillips on foot, by vehicle, and on ATVs.
A helicopter has been requested to assist with the search.
WSLM will update this story when more information becomes available.
As summer approaches Hoosiers are worried mosquitoes might spread COVID-19.
Professor of Entomology/Vector Biology Catherine Hill says there are many reasons it’s “extremely unlikely” that mosquitoes can transmit the virus.
“It is early days but we’re always looking at things from risk management and assessment perspective and I think the risk is very low,” Hill said.
COVID-19 belongs to the coronavirus family and other viruses in the same family – such as SARS (severe acute respiratory syndrome) and MERS (Middle East respiratory syndrome) – are not transmitted through mosquitoes or ticks, she added.
Some viruses, like the common cold and flu, spread more during cold weather months but that does not mean it is impossible to become sick with these viruses during other months. There is much more to learn about the transmissibility, severity, and other features associated with COVID-19, and investigations are ongoing.
Although coronavirus has been found in blood samples from infected people, there’s no evidence it can spread via mosquitoes.
Even if a mosquito did pick up a high enough dose of the virus in a blood meal, there is no evidence the virus would be able to infect the mosquito itself. And if the mosquito isn’t infected, it won’t be able to transmit it to the next person she bites.
She offered these points to help calm Hoosier’s fears:
While research is still ongoing into primary routes of transmission, SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, is a “respiratory virus” and is primarily transmitted by “aerosol” route; sneezing/coughing and touching contaminated surfaces and then touching your face. Although it has been detected at low levels in the blood, there is no evidence it can be transmitted via a bite from a mosquito.
It’s true that mosquitoes can transmit some viruses such as dengue and Zika, but they don’t transmit all viruses.
For a mosquito to become infected with SARS-CoV-2, it would have to feed on the blood of an infected person, acquire the virus, which would have to pass into the midgut of the mosquito, infect the salivary glands, replicate and then be passed to another person during a second blood meal. This whole process takes 10-14 days and during this time a virus would have to overcome physical and physiological barriers. There is no biological evidence that any virus in the coronavirus family is capable of achieving this feat. Transmission is a remote possibility.
However, mosquitoes and ticks can spread other diseases such as West Nile Virus and Lyme disease, so Hoosiers should remain vigilant this summer.
Residents of Meadow View Healthcare and Salem Crossing were expecting another day of the “new normal” thanks to the Covid-19 virus.
Were they ever in for a big surprise?
As Holly Ann Lee Thompson, the executive director of Salem Crossing, said, “We’re offering something we’ve never done before. It’ not normal. Horses…people love horses.”
In this case, it was the ASC Cavalry, Horses of Hope.
Wednesday afternoon, Wess Jackson, co-owner of American Senior Communities (ASC), pulled up with his wife, Marci, two of their therapy horses, a pony, and a dog.
Jackson described the horses as “essential employees.” On Wednesday he had Preacher and Titus along with pony Romeo. They also had their dog, Sinch along.
“It’s much harder on residents now with the isolation requirements, with visitors, etc., so these guys are essential for the emotional health of our residents.”
Jackson said his equines are therapy horses and anyone watching would see their visit was clearly therapeutic.
At the Meadow View visit, executive director, Joe Cox, led Romeo around the outside of the facility.
“Residents came to the windows to clap and wave as the animals paraded past. This has been an awesome day for our residents, something they were very excited about,’ he said.
Jackson and Marci guided the horses from window to window, prompting smiles and laughter from those inside.
“Hey, hey, you need a new roommate?” Jackson shouted to one resident through the window. “How about this guy right here?”
Jackson said they visited a couple of communities earlier in the spring and were so overwhelmed the response, they decided to take their dog and pony show on the road.
Their hope now? To visit every single one of them, spreading joy and hope to those in need of a lift and a little nuzzling…through the window.
ASC has 87 communities across Indiana and the Jacksons have visited more than half and expect to complete the circuit in the coming weeks.
ASC Co-Owner Wess Jackson visited Meadow View Healthcare on Wednesday with his wife and the Horses of Hope.Wess Jackson held up dog, Sinch, for one of the residents at Meadow View Healthcare to see on Wednesday.Marci Jackson and horse Preacher visited with residents at Salem Crossing on Wednesday.Meadow View Healthcare Executive Director Joe Cox walked pony Romeo around the outside of the facility to visit with residents.Salem Crossing Executive Director Holly Ann Lee Thompson poses with Titus, one of the Horses of Hope.
Jackson said their hope is when the quarantine is over to come back and bring the horses to bring the residents, their families and staff outside to share in visiting with the animals in person.
Washington County has had no reported new cases of the Covid-19 virus since Sunday and is holding at 31 positive cases.
There still have been no deaths reported and as of Wednesday, there had been 186 people tested.
There has been no change in new cases since 29 cases were reported on April 19.
The Indiana State Department of Health (ISDH) Wednesday announced that 394 additional Hoosiers have been diagnosed with COVID-19 through testing at ISDH, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and private laboratories.
That brings to 12,438 the total number of Indiana residents known to have the novel coronavirus following corrections to the previous day’s total.
The new cases and new tests reported today are lower than expected due to a technology issue and should not be interpreted as a decline in new infections.
The additional positive cases not included in today’s report will be captured in the coming days and reflected appropriately.
To date, 69,470 tests have been reported to ISDH, up from 67,264 on Tuesday.
Marion County had the newest cases, at 97. Other counties with more than 10 new cases were Cass (31), Hamilton (12), Lake (72), Porter (10), and St. Joseph (21). The Lake County totals include results from East Chicago and Gary, which have their own health departments.
Lawrence County has 83 positive cases, 9 deaths, and 433 people have been tested
Monroe County has 118 positive cases, 5 deaths, and 927 people have been tested
Bartholomew County has 146 positive cases, 7 deaths, and 454 people have been tested
Brown County has 14 positive cases, 1 death, and 53 people have been tested
Daviess County has 38 positive cases, 6 death, and 228 people have been tested
Greene County has 44 positive cases, 4 deaths, and 313 people have been tested
Jackson County has 97 positive cases, 0 deaths, and 451 people have been tested
Martin County has 6 positive cases, 0 deaths, and 49 people have been tested
Orange County has 38 positive cases, 4 deaths, and 185 people have been tested
A total of 661 Hoosiers have died to date. Deaths are reported based on when data are received by ISDH and occurred over multiple days.
The complete list of counties with cases is included in the ISDH COVID-19 dashboard at coronavirus.in.gov.
Cases are listed by the county of residence.
Private lab reporting may be delayed and will be reflected in the map and count when results are received at ISDH. The dashboard will be updated at noon each day.
The dashboard also has been updated to make corrections based on the updated information provided to ISDH.
Floyd County Health Department (FCHD) said there was an isolated cluster of COVID-19 cases at the Providence – A Diversicare Transitional Care Community on Charlestown Road in Floyd County.
The facility has tested all consenting patients.
There have been over 50 positive tests and five deaths.
Not all of the positive tests are currently symptomatic.
Additionally, 13 staff have tested positive for the Novel Coronavirus.
FCHD is identifying this facility due to the number of cases to keep our county informed.
FCHD has been involved on-site since the first cases were reported, over three weeks ago.
Indiana State Department of Health (ISDH) has also made multiple visits to the site.
The FCHD and the ISDH are continuing to work with Providence in a response to the outbreak. The Health Department has been providing additional Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) as well as in-service training to promote effective use of the PPE.
ISDH has also assisted the facility with a Strike Team evaluation and Epidemiological support and analysis.
The facility has responded to input from ISDH and the FCHD with transparency and cooperation.
Patients have been moved into areas to facilitate care of positive patients.
This is called Cohort Placement. The facility has arranged for extra staff in this area. The facility no longer allows visitors and
is screening staff before their shift starts. They reported that they have contacted family members of positive patients.
Providence is working to keep patients in their rooms to avoid the spread of disease.
Additionally, they will not be taking new residents for at least the next seven days.
The FCHD will continue to monitor and work closely with both Providence and the other nursing homes
in our county, as other extended-care facilities/nursing homes have reported positive cases.
If additional information is required you can contact the FCHD at (812) 948-4726, or
tharris@floydcounty.in.gov
Andrew Morton, MD, Harrison County Health Officer today announced the fourth confirmed death from COVID-19.
The individual was a female from Harrison County. The person, who was 99 years of age, suffered from underlying medical conditions.
No further information about the patient will be released due to privacy laws.
The third county resident died from the virus, late afternoon Tuesday.
The Harrison County Health Department confirms one hundred eleven confirmed cases of COVID-19 as of 4/22/20 in Harrison County Residents.
The number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in Harrison County increased by 48 in the past week.
Thirty-seven of those new cases were reported among patients and staff at Harrison Healthcare Center in Corydon and three were from Tyson Foods’ Corydon plant.
Information released last Wednesday said six cases of COVID-19 were reported at Harrison Healthcare.
Seventeen additional COVID-19 cases were identified at the facility on Friday, with health officials saying 16 of those were reported to be asymptomatic, meaning the persons showed no symptoms of the virus.
On Sunday, 10 more people associated with Harrison Healthcare were confirmed positive for COVID-19, with nine of them as asymptomatic.
Residents in other long-term care facilities in the county have been tested by one of the Indiana State Health Dept.’s strike teams.
The Health Department continues to monitor this evolving situation and will make further recommendations as necessary.
The Harrison County Health Department is working closely with local and state officials to ensure that contacts of the patient are identified and monitored and that all infection control protocols are being followed.
The Harrison County Health Department will provide updates as new information becomes available.
36-46-1-15 Invasion of Privacy
35-43-4-2 THEFT
35-42-2-1(g)(2) BATTERY-COMMITTED WITH A DEADLY WEAPON-FELONY
35-42-2-9 STRANGULATION
35-42-2-1.3(b)(2) DOMESTIC BATTERY-ADULT KNOWING PRESENCE OF CHILD LESS THAN 16 YEARS OLD (SEE OR HEAR)
35-42-3-3 CONFINEMENT
35-46-1-15.1 FAMILY OFFENSE- INVASION OF PRIVACY
35-43-4-2 THEFT
35-45-2-5 COMMUNICATION- INTERFERE IN THE REPORTING OF A CRIME
35-43-1-2(a) CRIMINAL MISCHIEF
Inmates booked into the Detention Center within the last 24 hours.
HAMMILL, BROOKS
Booking #:
SCJAIL:2020-000403
Booking Date:
04-22-2020 – 1:17 am
Charges:
IC 35-48-4-11(A)MB ~ POSSESSION MARIJUANA/HASH OIL/HASHISH OR SALVIA
IC 35-48-4-6.1(A)FL6 ~ POSSESSION OF METHAMPHETAMINE
IC 35-43-4-2(A)MA ~ THEFT — LESS THAN $750
IC 35-44.1-2-3(C)FL6 ~ FALSE INFORMING
IC 35-48-4-13(A)MB ~ VISITING A COMMON NUISANCE
IC 35-48-4-6.1(A)FL6 ~ POSSESSION OF METHAMPHETAMINE
IC 35-48-4-8.3(A)MA ~ POSSESSION OF PARAPHERNALIA
OUT OF COUNTY WARRANT ~ OUT OF COUNTY WARRANT
OUT OF COUNTY WARRANT ~ OUT OF COUNTY WARRANT
OUT OF COUNTY WARRANT ~ OUT OF COUNTY WARRANT
IC 35-48-4-4.6(C)MC ~ DEALING OR POSSESSION OF A LOOKALIKE SUBSTANCE
Today, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) through the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) awarded $3,204,046 to Indiana to combat the COVID-19 pandemic in rural communities. Specifically, this funding was awarded to the Indiana State Department of Health as an investment to support small rural hospitals in Indiana. Additional funding of $828,571 was awarded to the Indiana Rural Health Association, an HRSA-funded Telehealth Resource Center (TRC), to provide technical assistance on telehealth services to help rural and underserved areas combat COVID-19.
“Today’s funding gives rural hospitals in Indiana critical support to build up their capacity for fighting COVID-19 in their communities, including through further expansions of telehealth, more purchases of PPE, and boosting testing capacity,” said HHS Secretary Alex Azar. ”This funding, secured by President Trump from Congress, will build on the historic expansion of telehealth undertaken by the Trump Administration to help all Americans in Indiana access the care they need during the pandemic.”
HRSA’s Federal Office of Rural Health Policy (FORHP) received $150 million through the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act to assist hospitals across the nation, funded through the Small Rural Hospital Improvement Program (SHIP), respond to this public health emergency.
The CARES Act funding allows hospitals maximum flexibility in how they respond to COVID-19 within their communities, including the provision of testing and laboratory services as well as the purchase of personal protective equipment to minimize COVID-19 exposure.
Nationally, the FORHP will award more than $11.5 million from the CARES Act to the 14 TRCS to provide support as they combat COVID-19. The TRCs provide expertise and customized telehealth technical assistance throughout the United States and its territories, while also acting as a clearinghouse for telehealth research, program design and implementation.
“As the nation combats COVID-19, telehealth is increasingly instrumental and effective as a tool to provide healthcare for patients across the country, especially the most vulnerable,” said HRSA Administrator Tom Engels. “Providing the TRCs with this additional funding enables them to expand their ability to provide technical assistance to communities in need.”
With these new funds, TRCs will be able to provide hands-on technical support in areas such as equipment acquisition, payment policy, system design and licensing and credentialing.
