News release from the Allen County Department of Health:
COVID-19 Cases from Surrounding Counties Mean Local Exposures Inevitable
(March 14, 2020) – Allen County health officials want to remind the community that as cases of COVID-19 increase throughout state, they will continue to hear about local exposures to the virus.
Allen County currently has no known confirmed cases, but the Indiana State Department of Health (ISDH) released its daily COVID-19 case count Saturday with an additional case confirmed in Wells County – increasing the number of confirmed cases in surrounding Northeast Indiana counties to three.
One case reported from a surrounding county had been a short-term resident of Allen County for several weeks and was exposed and diagnosed here.
“Because people from many of our neighboring counties come here every day to work, attend events, shop and receive various medical care, it is inevitable we will become aware of additional exposures in our community as the virus spreads,” said Allen County Health Commissioner Dr. Deborah McMahan. “We are working closely with ISDH and the surrounding local health departments to ensure any of our residents potentially exposed are informed and proper steps are taken.”
Allen County residents who are exposed to known confirmed cases of COVID-19 are asked to quarantine at home for 14 days and monitor themselves for fever, cough and other symptoms. Quarantine separates and restricts the movement of those exposed to see if they become sick. Household contacts and family members of people quarantined can go about their normal business but should self-monitor for fever or other symptoms and call their doctor if any develop.
Testing for COVID-19 IS NOT currently available on demand or by request. Patients must currently meet ISDH’s criteria to be tested, and strict protocol must be followed to ensure no one else is exposed while a mucus specimen is collected from the individual.
Anyone with a fever of 100 degrees F AND a cough should first call their healthcare provider to discuss their symptoms and determine the next course of action.
The following local healthcare providers have set up specific screening for COVID-19:
- Fort Wayne Medical Education patients should call 260-423-2675
- IU Health patients should download the telemedicine application IU Health Virtual Visit and follow directions OR call 260-234-5400
- Lutheran Health patients should call 260-435-5050
- Parkview patients should call 1-877-PPG-TODAY or their specific provider; Parkview has also set up a self-screening website at Parkview.com/covid19screening.
- Neighborhood Health Clinic patients should call 260-458-2570
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