Today’s update discusses:

• cleaning service to help decontaminate N95 masks
• state plans to centralize contact tracing efforts
• more free drive-thru testing sites open

RESOURCES

• Indiana has acquired a cleaning service for medical workers, dentists, and other essential workers using N95 masks that will clean the masks up to 20 times. The cleaning service, which is expected to launch next week, will allow providers to conserve their masks. The state hopes this service will greatly help with the availability of personal protective equipment so that providers may continue safely treating those who have been exposed to COVID-19.
• The Indiana State Department of Health announced this week a plan to centralize contact tracing efforts in a separate call center outside of local health departments. (Contact tracing tracks people who were exposed to someone who tested positive for COVID-19.) If a resident has been identified as a point of contact, they will need to quarantine for two weeks. The state believes that this step, along with increased testing, is critical to reopening and moving away from the stay-at-home order. The call center is expected to launch May 11 and will continue to operate for as long as necessary.
• During Wednesday’s briefing, Indiana State Health Commissioner Kristina Box stated that Kroger and the Allen County Department of Health will launch free drive-thru testing in Fort Wayne. They also plan to open another site in Marion County. The site in Fort Wayne will be open today and tomorrow; dates and times for next week will be announced later. The professionals facilitating these tests expect to test 330 people per day, with results expected within approximately 48 hours.