Governor introduces new initiative, discuss testing and PPEs, pregnancy concerns, and more in daily press conference

#INThisTogether

During Gov. Eric Holcomb’s daily press conference this afternoon, he once again pleaded with Hoosiers to stay home.

“Social distancing is the most important and effective tool we have to defeat COVID-19,” he said. “That’s how we’re currently flattening the curve. I’m encouraged that Hoosiers are hunkered down at home.”

Still, he noted the way Hoosiers are coming together to fight the SARSII virus and the COVID-19 disease.

“As we see the surge coming, we see it matched only by a true surge of Hoosier generosity and kindness and determination,” said Holcomb. “Whenever we have faced a challenge before, Hoosiers have always risen up to meet that challenge and answer that call and this time is absolutely no different whatsoever.”

He said, while social distancing may put space between people physically, that doesn’t mean people can’t bond closer together to meet each other’s needs.

“That’s what this #INThisTogether campaign is all about,” he said. “… We’re just so proud, quite frankly, to stand shoulder to shoulder with Hoosier businesses all across our state, in 92 counties … We are all not going to be sidelined during this important hour in our state’s history … Our shared goal is simple and straightforward. We need to act now and by doing so, we are all going to save lives. I know we’re all looking forward to that day when we’re able to go back to our more typical routines, our normal days filled with group activities and going to sporting events and taking in more kick-offs and tip-offs and spring trainings and hearing the engines roar. That day will come, but we want to get there sooner, not later. Right now, this is what every single person can do to help us meet that goal. If you take this seriously and do your part and help this share this simple, urgent, straightforward message, that we’re all in this together, we will spread the word and our actions and not the virus.”

Dave Ricks, chairman and CEO of Eli Lilly and Company, spoke about what his company is doing to fight COVID and its partnership with the state for the #INThisTogether initiative. He said Eli Lilly, along with other Indiana institutions — the Colts, the Pacers, Indianapolis Mayor Joe Hogsett, IU, Purdue, and other businesses and nonprofits — are part of the initiative.

Ricks said Eli Lilly has been working on therapies for the novel coronavirus, along with supplies health products like insulin and other medications.

“I want to remind people our plants are running full-time to make sure your medicines will be ready at the pharmacy counter,” said Ricks. “That’s not something to worry about. Our heroic workers are coming in every day to make those products.”

He said the #INThisTogether campaign to promote social distancing is one his company takes very seriously.

“As the leader of a scientifically driven company, we know from the scientists the single most important thing we can do to flatten the curve and improve the outcomes of this pandemic in Indiana is to practice social distancing together,” said Ricks. “It only works if we all do this together.”

He reiterated the guidelines set down by the ISDH: stay home unless absolutely necessary, and if you need to be out, try to stay six feet away from other people. Also, take care of ourselves, especially those who are at high risk for developing serious illness from the virus. Sometimes, the best way to do that is to avoid being around those people.

“By doing this all at once, we can speed this crisis along, and get to the end we want to see and keep as many Hoosiers safe as possible,” said Ricks. “… We can do this the best of any state if we come together and remind each other every day how important it is. It will save lives. The message today is ‘Spread the word, not the virus.’”

Holcomb repeated how important it is to take social distancing seriously and recognize the solemnity and the severity of the task ahead.

“We see this wake of destruction that COVID-19 is leaving in its wake, both from a personal, human perspective, and then from a fiscal, economic perspective,” he said. “Sadly, we have more fatalities, our highest day yet. Families are mourning and grieving and will be for a long, long time, 16 of them over the last 24 hours.”

Cases of COVID-19 have appeared in 83 of Indiana’s 92 counties. Holcomb said it will continue to spread.

“To anyone out there who feels they are immortal or if they are viewing this virus as something that is inevitable and we’re helpless to do anything about it, the good news is we can fight back,” he said. “We can slow the spread. We can flatten the curve. We know COVID-19 does not discriminate. We know it can infect the healthy, the young, maybe you won’t be infected, but we know it will use you to kill others.”

“I know these steps may be inconvenient,” he continued. “Fine. We’ll deal with that and we’ll get through this, but we have to take these steps together … I plead with you, don’t gamble with your own life and don’t gamble with others’.”

He said if people will not social distance for their own sake, they should do it for the healthcare workers, the store clerks and senior citizens who are at higher risk due to increased exposure to people who are sick, people who are out and about and more threatened by the virus in general.

“We’re not at the peak yet,” Holcomb said later. “We’re looking way up at the peak. I don’t want anyone to get complacent and thinking we’re about to have this in our rear-view mirror. We’re sailing into this storm together and we’re going to need every hand on deck to negotiate these rocky, shallow waters ahead, so prepare to stay hunkered down, Hoosiers.”

In previous statements, Holcomb said he believed Hoosiers were taking the social distancing directive seriously. Why then, a reporter asked, is this initiative necessary?

“It’s a good aspiration, regardless of whether you believe we are or not, we are all in this together and we will get through this together,” he said. “One thing I’m pleased about is this is pulling our state together unlike I’ve ever seen before. I have a lot of conversations with a lot of people who remember where they were when President Kennedy was assassinated, or during 9/11 or now, this. This virus that is ravaging our communities and our families across the world, the states that come together and collaborate — understanding that, of course there are different levels of government and communities inside our nations — all the lines go away. When you’re at home and sewing a mask and sending it off to Evansville when you live in Delphi or you’re sending it to West Lafayette or Lafayette, we’re going to get through this faster. We never want to let up. We’re in the beginning of this. We’re not in the middle, we’re not in the peak. The more, the merrier. We all need to be rowing and oaring in the same direction. That’s what this is about. It’s about a team of Hoosiers — 6.7 million. That’s why I’m so stoked about having the Pacers and having the Colts and IU and Purdue and anyone else who wants to join the team. We all have one play to run and we’re going to get through this a lot faster if we work together. It’s that simple, and yet profound.”

To learn more about the campaign, visit INThisTogetherCampaign.com.

Testing

Indiana State Department of Health Commissioner Dr. Kristine Box said the state has increased its testing capacity significantly since it began a few weeks ago, due to partnerships with Eli Lilly and other private labs. She said Eli Lilly had it’s highest testing day on Tuesday with 458 tests finished for the state and another 436 tests they completed from drive-thru testing clinics for healthcare professionals and other high-risk populations.

“We still have finite supplies, so that’s why we continue to promote targeted testing so we can continue to make sure our hospital systems who are testing our most acutely ill will still be able to have that rapid turn-around time for their results,” said Box.

She announced new testing guidelines, which now extend to symptomatic individuals who may not require hospitalization, but are still high risk due to comorbidities. This also includes pregnant individuals.

“We want our providers to continue to be the ones working with patients to decide who needs to be tested,” she said.

Box announced the state is distributing another 3,000 kits made by Lilly to nine hospital systems who have reported they are critically low on testing supplies. She added all states have been informed they will be receiving rapid tests developed by Abbott to help with testing as well. The state will receive 15 machines and tests to go with them.

Ricks said Eli Lilly has been growing and expanding their capacity for testing, including drive-thru testing, over the last week or so and have tested more than 6,000 people so far.

“We’re trying to make the biggest impact we can on public health,” he said. “We’ve started with healthcare workers, many of whom are quarantined, but may not have the virus. We’re working with local hospitals to make sure those individuals can get back to work and expand the capacity to treat patients, and those who do have the virus know it and can stay home for the period of time required.”

Then, he said, they added first responders and on Wednesday, expanded it to “front-line essential workers.”

“People who are checking you out at the grocery, pharmacists, people who are in contact with the public for essential things we need to do to keep our households running, and now, we’re also including symptomatic people in the general public who have those high-risk factors, typically seniors and people with comorbid conditions.”

He said they will likely not be expanding to the general public for some time.

Box said the state is in contact with the Rural Health Association and have received guidance on things rural areas of the state will need help with and will follow up on testing.

She said those looking at data regarding testing will see dips and crests when looking at the number of people being tested.

“I think part of that has to do with additional labs, as they continue to report to us, those reports come in at different times,” she said. “I can tell you Deaconess Hospital has come online with testing, we have individuals working with Purdue University to get more testing, we have a new lab in the northwest part of the state that is doing testing … I am confident the testing is increasing and the numbers will wax and wane there.”

“We’re fortunate in the state of Indiana to have labs, private labs and Lilly and IU Health, who are doing testing,” said Holcomb. “We’re doing our best to make sure we are testing the people who need tested so we’re not making a run on the supply … If you have a high fever, a respiratory issue, you need to reach out to your doctor or healthcare provider. They are the ones who will make the call for you to get tested.”

Holcomb said he does not intend to be tested unless he begins to exhibit symptoms.

“I don’t need to be tested right now,” he said. “Should that day come, I will be. Odds are, I’m in relatively good health, and I’ll get through it just fine. I don’t want to be, so I am practicing social distancing as much as I can every single day. I don’t want to be a hypocrite here. When I’m out and about, picking up groceries, I keep six feet between me and the cashier and I ask everyone to play by the same rules.”

PPEs

The state has also received more supplies from the Strategic National Stockpile, making three shipments so far. Box said they are continuing to stock long-term care facilities and EMS facilities.

“PPE continues to be in high demand, so we have a whole team of individuals who are working on trying to allocate and receive and buy as many personal protective equipment as possible — masks, gowns, anything we can get, we are trying to get at this point in time and stock that so we can provide that to our first responders and our health care personnel across the state,” she said.

Businesses or organizations wanting to donate PPE can contact COVIDresponse@iedc.in.gov for more information on how to do so.

“We will accept any mask that you have,” Box said later in the press conference. “We have no problems with the masks you have; we will use them no matter what, even if it’s on top of our N95 masks to keep from soiling them.”

Box further recognized all those working on the front lines of this crisis.

“We could not do without you,” she said. “Every day, you put your own needs and your own worries aside to go out and make sure the sickest amongst us have the care that they need for the best possible outcome. Thank you for all your sacrifices and for going that extra mile, whether that means taking jobs you weren’t necessarily comfortable with or in the range of your normal duties, or finding a way to help families find a way to visit with their critically ill family members in case they might not make it home. Everything you do matters and it makes me incredibly proud today to be a Hoosier.”

Holcomb said in conversations he has regarding supplies, he always asks for more.

“We need more,” he said. “Pour it on. We’re not content right now. We can always use more … I’m crystal clear that we want and need more. One of the comforting things is so many people are stepping up to help us bridge that divide in the state of Indiana, but of course, we’re going to continue to make requests of the national stockpile. Of course, we’re going to, every time I’m on the phone talking, make the case that we don’t want to become one of the pronounced hot spots in the country. That’s also going to come down to our own behavior and that’s what we can adjust.”

Box said the state has yet to have to deny requests for PPEs from local entities.

Social distancing

Holcomb said he didn’t believe the rules around what is and isn’t essential businesses needed to be tightened in order to better allow people to social distance.

“Not at this time,” he said. “We evaluate this by the hour, we look at our essential businesses and understand people have to get to the grocery store or the doctor. Life is different, but life will continue, and we’ll absolutely be monitoring this.”

He said the state is opening very direct lines of communication to local governments and other state governors.

“We’re making sure the folks who are out and about, carrying on with the essentials, are carrying on in a responsible way,” he said. “We’re in this for the long-haul, and if something needs to change today or tomorrow, we’ll make that call.”

When it comes to extending the stay-at-home directive, Holcomb said many dates are in two-week increments and the state is hoping to align as many of those dates as possible.

“The next update we’ll have will be within a week to give folks notice and time to adjust,” said Holcomb. “We’re going to continue to monitor everything on a minute-by-minute, hourly, daily basis.”

Pregnancy concerns

Expectant parents with due dates during this crisis are concerned about what the birth of their child will look like during this time.

“There’s no indication that we’re not going to be able to have our obstetrical units have women who are pregnant come in with their significant other and deliver their babies in a very healthy fashion,” said Box. “We are going to be very limited on having visitors other than the significant other, mama and baby together.”

Box said if the mother’s significant other is sick, they will likely not be allowed to be there for the birth.

“That will be very difficult, but we don’t want to expose Mom to that and the newborn baby,” she said. “We’re going to try to continue business as usual because we understand these are two or three of the most important days of your life and we want to continue for that to be a very happy process for you.”

Money matters

In Wednesday’s press conference Workforce Development Commissioner Fred Payne said furloughed workers are treated the same as laid-off workers if they are not receiving payment, as long as the furloughed workers do not work for the federal government.

“If you are not receiving payments, you can probably receive benefits under our unemployment compensation system. You still just have to apply and we will evaluate that claim.”

Surge management

While the primary concern during the COVID-19 surge will be on patients with the virus, there will still be car accidents and broken bones and other reasons people will need to visit a hospital. The state is looking into additional, alternative care sites for people who are being treated for non-COVID-19 reasons, using existing sites and other non-traditional locations as well.

Furthermore, the Department of Homeland Security is looking into mortuary assistance for the unfortunate increase in deaths due to COVID-19, and are working with coroners and health departments to manage these issues associated with COVID-19.