Washington County has tripled its number of Covid-19 cases in the past six days.

On March 31 there were six cases reported and this morning’s Indiana State Health Department’s report showed 18 total confirmed cases. That has increased by two since Saturday. 

No deaths have been reported yet in Washington County. 

According to a website sponsored by Unacast, Washington County received a D- grade in social distancing, noting that there had only been a 24-40 decrease in mobility among county residents. 

Monroe, along with Hamilton and Howard counties each scored an A-

Indiana and Kentucky both earned D grades. 

ISDH today announced that 464 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 4,411 the total number of Indiana residents known to have the novel coronavirus following corrections to the previous day’s total.

A total of 127 Hoosiers have died to date. Deaths are reported based on when data are received by ISDH and occurred over multiple days.

To date, 22,652 tests have been reported to ISDH, up from 19,800 on Saturday.

According to ISDH, private lab reporting may be delayed and will be reflected in the map and count when results are received at ISDH.

Updates from around the WSLM Listening Area include:

• Lawrence County – 39 total cases (up by 3 from yesterday)
• Jackson County – 36 total cases (up by 6 from yesterday)
• Scott County – 8 total cases (up by 1 from yesterday)
• Clark County – 66 total cases (up by 5 from yesterday)
• Floyd County – 50 total cases (up by 9 from yesterday)
• Harrison County – 33 total cases (up by 5 from yesterday)
• Crawford County – 5 total cases (no change)
• Orange County – 7 total cases (up by 2 from yesterday)

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

• Lawrence County – 5
• Jackson County – 0
• Scott County – 1
• Clark County – 4
• Floyd County – 0
• Harrison County – 1
• Crawford County – 0
• Orange County – 2
• Washington County – 0 

Cummins Inc. is temporarily shutting down all its southern Indiana manufacturing plants beginning next week in a staggered schedule in response to the market disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

The shutdown includes the Columbus Engine Plant, the Fuel Systems Plant (FSC and XPC), the Seymour Engine Plant and the Columbus MidRange Engine Plant, said Jon Mills, Cummins spokesman.

The announcement affects a couple of thousand employees in southern Indiana, the company said.

The layoff would mean the employees will not be paid by Cummins, but they will continue to have medical, dental and life insurance benefits for 90 days, Mills said.

The plant closings are being staggered to ensure the company builds enough inventory to meet customer demand, according to a company message to employees. Planned reopening for all the plants is scheduled for May 4, subject to change depending on demand, according to the company.

The company’s southern Indiana warehouses will remain open during the shutdown to support aftermarket operations. The company also said all technical centers, parts distribution centers and locations also will stay open, while adhering to all cleaning and safety measures.

Cummins’ MidRange Engine Plant in Walesboro, with about 900 employees, has been on a two-week shutdown since March 20. Mills said the plant supplies a facility in Mexico with the Dodge Ram engine.

Fiat Chrysler, the maker of the Dodge Ram, had temporarily halted production in North America due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Mills said if Fiat Chrysler resumes production on April 13, as the company has predicted, the Cummins MidRange Engine Plant would return to work on April 16.

At least four Seymour factories have reported cases of COVID-19.

Valeo North America informed its employees March 27 a worker had tested positive for the virus.

A second case was announced Monday, two more Wednesday and one Thursday for a total of five positive cases.

Lannett Co. Inc. notified workers Tuesday an employee tested positive. That person last worked March 19.

On Thursday, Aisin USA Manufacturing Inc. announced one of its employees had tested positive for the virus and is recovering at home in self-isolation.

The employee last worked March 21, and all areas within the plant were cleaned and disinfected two days later, according to information the company sent out to its team members.

Cummins Seymour Engine Plant also notified its workers of a confirmed positive case.

The person’s last day working at the plant was Monday.

Jeff Nordman, executive vice president of Aisin, said the company informed the Jackson County Health Department of the positive case and has notified employees who were in direct contact with the person and may have been exposed to the virus.

Aisin also notified its entire workforce, Nordman said.

“We will continue to take proactive and aggressive steps to help prevent the spread of the virus and keep team members and their families safe,” Nordman said.

Valeo’s first positive employee last worked in Plant 1 in Freeman Field Industrial Park on March 22.

The county health department notified immediate co-workers, and it was determined contact with other employees was limited.

Midwest Environmental was brought in March 28 to clean and sanitize areas in which the employee worked.

The second case was from Logistics Center 2, and that person’s last day worked was March 20.

One of the cases confirmed Wednesday worked in Plant 1 West with their last day worked March 21, and the other was in Plant 1 Tooling Services with their last day worked being March 27.

The most recently identified case worked at Plant 1 in the supply chain/customer service office with their last day worked March 24.

Valeo and Aisin are Jackson County’s largest industrial employers with more than 2,000 employees each.

Cummins employs more than 1,000 at its Seymour location, and Lannett has around 700 workers.

Aisin shut down its plants in Jackson County on March 23 after Gov. Eric Holcomb ordered all nonessential businesses to close and people to stay home.

That shutdown has since been extended to April 17.

The company is allowing employees to use PTO and vacation time or they can file for unemployment during the shutdown. It also continues to pay health insurance costs for workers.

Aisin is the sixth largest supplier of components for the global auto industry, including brakes, transmissions, navigation systems, drivetrain, chassis, body, engine-related parts and electronics.

Valeo manufacturers vehicle lighting systems and also remains on shutdown until April 14 due to the virus.

Both Cummins, a diesel engine maker, and Lannett, a pharmaceutical company, continue to operate but have modified schedules and in some cases reduced hours.

A civilian employee of the Indiana State Police has been diagnosed with the second confirmed case of the COVID-19 virus.

The employee, who is assigned to the State Police’s General Headquarters in Indianapolis, was admitted to a local hospital for a medical issue. 

Today, the employee received notice they tested positive for COVID-19 and remains hospitalized at this time.

State Police officials have been making notifications with additional co-workers throughout the day and taking appropriate disinfecting measures in the affected work area.

The Indiana State Police is working closely with the Indiana State Department of Health and is continuing to monitor the situation and is also following accepted virus mitigation practices for the health and safety of its employees, their families, and the greater community.

For up to date information on COVID-19, please visit the Indiana State Department of Health at https://www.in.gov/coronavirus/.

“Families today are suffering the ultimate loss due to COVID-19, and this sadly underscores how severe the virus can be – especially for some high-risk Hoosiers,” said Lopez. “The state is taking unprecedented actions to slow the spread of COVID-19, and every Hoosier should follow the precautionary measures.”

The Health Department issued this statement:

”It cannot be stressed enough – if you are ill, stay home. If you need to seek medical care, call ahead so that your healthcare provider can take steps to protect others from exposure to COVID-19. We all have a role to play to protect Hoosiers from this illness, and the time to act is now.”

The OCHD said tests are being done in Orange County and patient care is being administered.

The health care providers in the county are working very diligently to manage COVID-19 here.

Coronaviruses are most commonly spread from an infected person to others through:

respiratory droplets released into the air by coughing and sneezing; close personal contact, such as touching or shaking hands; touching an object or surface with the virus on it and then touching your mouth, nose or eyes before washing your hands; rarely, fecal contamination.

The symptoms vary from person to person. Older individuals and those with underlying medical conditions are at higher risk for severe illness, however, this virus has attacked all ages.

The best ways to protect yourself are to wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, avoid touching your face with unwashed hands, avoid close contact with people who are sick, stay home when you’re sick, cover your cough or sneeze and clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces.

“We send condolences to the family and friends of those who have passed. This is a stark reminder of the severity of this disease. We as a community must listen to the guidance of the experts and practice all the ways to not spread this disease including social distancing. We all must protect those who are most vulnerable,” the health department shared.