New COVID-19 dashboard: 70 tests submitted by Memorial Hospital

Memorial Hospital and Health Care Center announced a new dashboard tracking the number of COVID-19 tests it has conducted.

The new dashboard includes the overall number of tests submitted, the number of negative results, the number of pending results and the number of positive results in Dubois County. The number of positive results tracks the number of cases in the county by the address of the individual and can include results from tests administered in other counties.

The dashboard was launched after the Indiana State Department of Health adjusted the screening guidelines for COVID-19 testing on March 31, 2020.

This information on the dashboard will be updated daily Monday-Friday by 11 a.m. on the Memorial Hospital website https://www.mhhcc.org/patients-visitors/coronavirus-covid-19-/covid-19-dashboard/.   

As of Friday, April 3, 2020, the hospital had submitted 70 tests and received 40 negative results. There are currently 27 pending tests results and four positive cases in Dubois County.

Early Friday, the state updated its COVID-19 dashboard to include the number of tests conducted in each county. It had only 22 tests being conducted in Dubois County. In regards to this difference, Memorial Hospital provided this information.

“The ISDH reported the number of COVID-19 test kits sent to the ISDH laboratory only. Memorial Hospital and Health Care Center reported the number of COVID-19 test kits sent to BOTH ISDH and commercial laboratories. It’s very confusing and misleading to report only the ISDH numbers for the county. We believe the tests submitted by MHHCC (although could include patients from outside of Dubois County because we service several counties) is a more accurate number for the public to know. We continue to test people in our community and have a Workforce of +1800 people preparing to serve you and the rest of the communities we serve”

As we continue to navigate COVID-19, it’s important that we continue to follow the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) recommendations the hospital stated:

• Practice social distancing: stay home if possible
• Wash hands with soap & water for 20 seconds often; if hand washing is unavailable, use hand sanitizer (at least 60% alcohol)
• Cover your coughs & sneezes with a tissue; then throw in trash
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth with unwashed hands
• Sanitize frequently touched surfaces and objects frequently
• Avoid handshakes and ‘high-fives” to prevent the transmission of COVID-19
• Stay home except to get medical care

In addition, the US Surgeon General Dr. Jerome Adams has listed Indianapolis among one of six new COVID-19 hotspots. This is due to significantly growing cases, and hospitals are gearing up for an influx of COVID-19 patients. Indianapolis is listed among New Orleans, Chicago, Detroit, Los Angeles, and Miami. Avoid travel unless critical, especially to Indianapolis.

Patients with COVID-19 symptoms who do not require emergency department services are encouraged to call 812-996-6330 or visit the Alternative Screening Site, located at 695 West Second Street in Jasper.  The Alternative Screening Site is open Monday – Sunday from 9am-9pm.