The Scott County Health Department confirmed its 16th and 17th cases of Covid-19 on Sunday.

While no information was provided on where the patients were quarantined or in medical care, the health department did update its list of possible infected places in the community.

Possible COVID-19 Exposures

The public should assume that undiagnosed/asymptomatic cases may be attending common areas in the community. All precautions should be taken when visiting these areas. This includes frequent hand washing, sanitizing frequently touched surfaces and wearing a mask in places that social distancing is difficult. Stay home except for essential travel or business.

The date ranges are listed because the patient does not remember exact days or times but does remember visiting these places during the infectious period.

Jay-C Store Scottsburg

• Dates: March 18th

Dollar General Store- Vienna 

• Dates: March 27th 

Scott’s Ace Hardware

• Date Range: March 27th-April 7th

Circle K Austin

• Date Range: March 27th-April 7th

256 Supply True Value Hardware

• Date Range: March 27th-April 7th

Huck’s 

• Date Range: March 27th-April 7th

Fuel Mart 

• Date Range: March 27th-April 7th

Walmart Scottsburg*

• Dates: March 24-March 30th

*indicates multiple patients have visited this location

Date updated: 4-12-2020

Pike and Pulaski counties were the only two in Indiana over the past few weeks to not have any positive reported cases of the Covid-19 virus, but over the weekend they each picked up one case. 

According to the Indiana State Health Department, there were 519 new cases reported since Friday, 13 new deaths and 3,332 new tests administered.

The state totals now stand at:

• 7,928 Total Positive Cases
• 343 Total Deaths
• 42,488 Tests Administered

Washington County picked up two more cases since Friday and the total now stands at 25.

In the WSLM Listening Area, the totals are:

• Lawrence – 68
• Jackson – 70
• Scott – 17
• Clark – 112
• Floyd – 107
• Harrison – 55
• Crawford – 12
• Orange – 17
• Washington – 25

Deaths reported in these counties are: 

• Lawrence – 7
• Jackson – 0
• Scott – 2
• Clark – 8
• Floyd – 4
• Harrison – 2
• Crawford – 0
• Orange – 3
• Washington – 0

Indiana reported 30 new Covid-19 deaths since Friday, with an increase of 528 new cases and 4,175 new tests administered in the past 24 hours. 

There were only 36 new cases reported in the 9-county area of Kentuckiana with no new cases in Washington and Crawford Counties. 

In fact, there have been no increases reported by the Indiana State Health Department in Washington County for three days.

The total stands at 23 with no deaths reported. 

Around Indiana the updated figures are:

• Total Positive Cases – 7435
• Total Deaths – 330
• Total Tested – 39,215

There were 4 new cases in Lawrence, 7 new cases in Jackson County, 3 new cases in Scott County, 2 new cases in Clark County, 12 new cases in Floyd County, 4 new cases in Harrison County and 3 new cases in Orange County. 

In the WSLM Listening area, totals today are:

Updated totals from around the WSLM Listening Area:

• Lawrence County – 63 total cases (up by 4 from Friday)
• Jackson County – 64 total cases (up by 7 from Friday)
• Scott County – 15 total cases (Up by 3 from Friday )
• Clark County – 106 total cases (up by 2 from Friday)
• Floyd County – 105 total cases (up by 12 from Friday)
• Harrison County – 54 total cases (up from 4 from Friday)
• Crawford County – 12 total cases (No change)
• Orange County – 16 total cases (up by 3 from Friday)
• Washington County – 23 total cases (No change)

Total deaths caused by Covid-19 in the WSLM Listening Area include:

• Lawrence County – 7
• Jackson County – 0
• Scott County – 2
• Clark County – 8
• Floyd County – 4
• Harrison County – 2
• Crawford County – 0
• Orange County – 3
• Washington County – 0 

The Washington County Farmers-Merchants Fair is still being planned as scheduled for June 13-20 with a kick-off parade on June 7th, according to the fair board. 

This year’s theme is Basketball – The State That Grew The Game, which mirrors the Indiana State Fair theme.

In light of the COVID-19 pandemic, the board met to discuss the plans for the 2020 Fair.

“We have made the decision to proceed as planned at this time. We will re-evaluate on May 17th,” according to Fair Board President Cheryl Lee. 

Currently, the State of Indiana is on a Stay-at-Home order through the first of May. This could be extended depending on the number of active cases and tests being administered for the COVID-19 virus. 

At this time, Gov. Eric Holcomb has asked that no groups gather with more than 10 people.

Lee asks those who are planning to have a food booth or commercial booth, to reserve your spot and plan as normal.

You can email Tim Anderson for details and for a form at trandersona@gmail.com

Anderson said in an email earlier this year that 

“Any monies sent to reserve spots between now and May 17th will be held and returned if we cannot have the fair,” Lee said. “Stay safe and healthy and we hope to see you in June.”

Anderson said the fair board had made a major change in the way booths will be handled this year.

According to Anderson the board will allow businesses and groups to rent space and set up booths, but not have to have personnel there at all times.

Anders said booth setup times would be:

• Friday June 12th 10a to 4p
• Saturday June 13th 9a to 2p
• Monday June 15 8a to 12p  (be mostly done by 12p; touch up 5:45p)

Fair Booth Hours will be as follows:

• Monday, June 15 – 6p to 10p
• Tuesday, June 16 – Friday, June 19 – 6p to 9p
• Saturday, June 20 – 5p to 8p

Teardown of booths will take place on Saturday June 20 after 8p (not before). Anderson said booth equipment can be carried out of the buildings only. There will be no parking at front of the building.

The buildings will be open the next day, Sunday from 9am to 4p. All booth equipment and decorations will need to be gone by Tuesday June 23rd. 

Next week Purdue will be making a decision about June 4-H activities.

Once the decision has been made, the
Washington County Purdue Extension Office will notify local 4-H families.

In the midst of the ongoing novel coronavirus global pandemic, Salem Mayor, Justin Green, is encouraging businesses to apply for newly announced assistance programs through the Federal CARES Act and to remind residents of the importance of following Governor Eric Holcomb’s stay-at-home order.

“I know families and businesses are struggling as we disrupt our daily lives to ensure our own health and safety and that of others, but I do want to continue to encourage us all to look out for each other. I want to, again, stress the importance of taking the
Governor’s order to heart and to take it seriously. The programs that have been put in place by the state and federal government should help get us through the next several weeks and I hope citizens will take advantage of them,” said Green.

Green says he is optimistic these programs will begin to provide relief quickly. For instance, the Indiana Economic Development Corporation recently announced several resources available to small business owners, including Federal Paycheck Protection
Loans and Small Business Administration Disaster Loans.

“Under the paycheck protection loans, Salem and Indiana businesses can apply for up to eight weeks of cash-flow assistance. If these companies maintain their payroll during
this period, the portion of the loans used to cover payroll costs, interest on mortgage obligations, rent and utilities would be forgiven. Programs like these, can be a saving grace right now,” said Green.

Additional programs include the SBA disaster loans, which allow small business owners to apply for a loan advance of up to $10,000, and SBA debt relief which will forgive six
(6) months of payments on existing SBA loans.

The debt relief program may be of importance to businesses who accessed these loans during the last major flood in Salem.

City of Salem 201 East Market Street, Salem, IN 47167 Ph#812-883-4265 info@cityofsalemin.com / www.cityofsalemin.com

“Even though there is no treatment for this virus and no vaccine as of today, I know Salem residents will work together by practicing social distancing and staying home until we can begin to emerge from this safely. I wanted to highlight a few of these programs that I believe can be helpful and to encourage Salem businesses to take advantage of them until we can get back to business as usual,” said Green.

In addition to the programs for businesses, there are also a variety of programs designed to help individuals and families. A full list of COVID-19 resources can be found at https://coronavirus.in.gov/.

City of Salem Mayor, Justin Green, recently announced the city has begun construction on road projects in and around Salem that were made possible through the State of Indiana’s Community Crossings grant awards from last year. 

In 2019, the City of Salem received $694,059 in grant funds from the program for area road improvements.

Mayor Green stated, “I am excited to see another project start to improve our roadway and I am grateful to the State for their partnership through these very important grant awards.”

The projects, started on Monday, April 6, 2020, includes improvements to the intersection on North Shelby Street near the intersection of West Market.

Motorists should expect slight traffic disruptions in this area, but the roads will remain open.

Another area of the city that will see improvements in a section of Fair Street off Jackson Street. Residents will see crews in that area in the coming days as they are working to relocate utilities.

The Mayor also notes the efforts that construction workers are taking to be safe during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Contractors have been diligent about the use of limited
crews and of abiding by the recommended CDC guidelines for social distancing. They are using two small crews and following protocols to stay healthy and safe,” said Green.