Today’s update discusses:

• Family and Social Services Administration creates a mental health resource website
• Cass County declares a local public health emergency
• state requires long-term care facilities to communicate with residents about daily COVID-19 updates

RESOURCES

• Governor Holcomb announced that the Indiana Family and Social Services Administration has launched a new website providing residents with free mental health resources vetted by experts. The purpose of the site is to assist those facing increased anxiety, depression, and other mental health issues caused by the pandemic. The information on the site includes coping mechanisms, crisis counseling, tips to monitor for signs of stress, domestic violence resources, substance abuse and recovery materials, and tips for helping children, youth, and teens.

EMERGENCY POWERS

• Cass County (in north central Indiana) has declared a public health emergency in response to a significant increase in the number of positive COVID-19 cases. In response to the increase of cases, the County issued a health emergency with the following guidelines: 

• • Masks must be worn in public
  • Only one family member per household may shop at essential stores
  • No person under 16 may enter essential stores
  • Only two customers per 1000 square feet are permitted in essential businesses, capping at 125 customers
  • Non-COVID-19 patients may be transferred to out-of-county hospitals for treatment.

County officials expressed the hope that these guidelines will help get them past the peak of cases.

HEALTH

• As of Friday, 260 residents of long-term care facilities had died of COVID-19, making up 32% of the virus deaths statewide. In response to spikes of COVID-19 in long-term care facilities, Indiana is now requiring these facilities to provide daily communication to residents and their designated representatives on total COVID-19 cases and deaths. If families feel they are not getting the information they need, the chief medical officer of Family and Social Services encouraged residents to email the agency, and the matter will be investigated.