The bad news about the novel coronavirus builds up over time to the point we all need a little good news.  Tonight’s Log episode attempts to cover some of the good news.

Justin Hirnisey counts himself as a lucky man.  He is executive director of the Hamilton Southeastern Schools Foundation, and his nonprofit group finished up the biggest fund-raising event of the year, Game Day, just before the nation began to largely shutdown over the spread of the novel coronavirus.  He know some other area school foundations were not a fortunate.

I spoke with Mr. Hirnisey about what its like for his organization as schools close their buildings and e-learning is the mode of instruction

When Fishers Mayor Scott Fadness announced his plans to create a city health department, he emphasized that there would be partnerships established with Community Health and Mid-America Clinical Labs to create a local coronavirus testing program.

Now that the City Council has approved the creation of the health department and its funding, Fishers has announced how local residents can ask for a test.

Note that not everyone requesting a test will get one because you must complete an online assessment before a test is scheduled.  This will be the “nasal swap” system for testing.

If you wish to apply for a COVID-19 test, begin the process by using this link.

The Hamilton County Health Department has released information on deaths in long-term care facilities due to COVID-19.  Three such facilities in Fishers reported deaths caused by the novel coronavirus.  Here are the facilities and number of deaths reported to the county located in Fishers, according to a story in the April 30th edition of the Hamilton County Reporter:

• Hamilton Trace: 7
• The Hearth at Windermere: 5
• Grand Brook Memory Care: 2

Below is the full story as it appeared in The Reporter:

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The Hamilton County Health Department has identified the names of long-term care facilities in Hamilton County that have reported COVID-19 deaths. Data are current as of Tuesday, April 27.

A total of 38 people living in long-term care facilities in the county have died of COVID-19.  According the health department, Carmel Health & Living has recorded the most Coronavirus deaths.

Carmel

• Carmel Health & Living: 10
• The Stratford: 6
• Brookdale of Carmel: 3

Fishers

• Hamilton Trace: 7
• The Hearth at Windermere: 5
• Grand Brook Memory Care: 2

Noblesville

• Harbour Manor: 3
• Heritage Woods: 1

Westfield

• Maple Park: 1

I will beg your indulgence by allowing me as the producer of these podcasts to exercise a point of personal privilege.  My mother just turn 90 years of age.  I think that’s important.  Here’s why.

As we all review the local novel coronavirus numbers, it is important to know that the number of deaths due to the virus are likely under-counted.  That is based on a YouTube video posted April 27th by the Hamilton County Health Department.

Jeff Jellison of the Hamilton County Reporter wrote a front page story in the April 29th edition of The Reporter saying “that the county’s COVID-19 death rate could be nearly three times more than reported.”

Here is the entire text of Jellison’s story:

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Hamilton County health officials announced Monday that the county’s COVID-19 death rate could be nearly three times more than reported.

Chris Walker of the Hamilton County Health Department said in an interview with Hamilton County Communications Director Tammy Sander that probable COVID-19 deaths are not included in the confirmed deaths being reported. Probable COVID-19 deaths are physicians attributing COVID-19 to the cause of death, but not having an actual test done on the patient.  According to Walker, doctors can look at X-rays and CT scans of the patient and determine without a test that most likely COVID-19 was a cause of death.

On Tuesday, the Indiana State Department of Health reported 58 confirmed COVID-19 deaths in the county. In addition, the state reported 91 total COVID-19 probable deaths, bringing the county’s death count to a potential total of 149 people.

According to Walker, Indiana should be seeing the peak in COVID-19 this week. “Looking at the numbers quickly it looks like we might be hitting that.”

Walker also said the county is now working with municipalities to find the right way to get people back to work and open up the local economy.

“Be patient and understand this is a process,” Walker said. “The target is moving. We may open up business, we may open it up and find that we need to take a step back, reevaluate and reassess, and attack it again.”

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The most recent official numbers from Hamilton County report 6,075 total COVID-19 tests conducted, 729 positive results with 58 deaths.

You can access the Chris Walker video posted April 27th at this link.

I had just completed production on this podcast when the Indiana State Department of Health announced novel coronavirus deaths in our state have exceeded 900.  I admit this podcast appears to be a bit of a downer at first, but sometimes pain and tragedy are what we need to collectively learn important lessons.

I know plenty of small business owners that would love a loan at 1% interest, paid over three years, with a six-month payment grace period on the front end….many Fishers commercial enterprises will have a shot at such a deal from the City of Fishers.  A new hotel is planned in Fishers and announced today.  Also, ever heard the phrase “contract tracing” and wondered what it means, exactly?  I cover those items and more in tonight’s Larry’s Log.

I wish better news was there to report on the novel coronavirus front, but the numbers continue rising.  Here are just a few.

As of Sunday, April 26, the state has reported 813 COVID-19 deaths.  In Hamilton County, health officials report 45 deaths, 27 of those in long-term care facilities.  13 people passing away from novel coronavirus had Fishers addresses.

Note that in Hamilton County, 27 of the 45 COVID-19 deaths happened in long-term care facilities.  However, the state of Indiana has refused to disclose where specific long-term care facilities are reporting COVID-19 issues.  The homes are now required to report this data to the state.

Tony Cook of the Indianapolis Star wrote an excellent piece posted to the IndyStar Web site on April 20th.  It centers on family members with loved ones in these facilities being left in the dark.  Here is some of Mr. Cook’s story:

“While some states are disclosing facility-specific information about the number of COVID-19 cases and deaths in nursing homes, Indiana is among those that refuse to identify individual facilities.

“That leaves residents and their families at the mercy of the nursing homes themselves, which are not required by law to provide the information. And while some facilities are providing routine updates, many are not, adding the fear of the unknown to an already terrifying situation.

“Some families even say the lack of information has compromised the safety of their loved ones.”

(Another reason to subscribe to the IndyStar and other local media)

So far, Governor Eric Holcomb has refused to direct his Indiana State Health Commissioner, Dr. Kristina Box, to release detailed information about which nursing homes are experiencing deaths and/or positive tests for COVID-19.  This has resulted in enraged family members venting on social media, demanding to know more about facilities housing their loved ones.

More locally, Fishers Mayor Scott Fadness is moving forward with his Fishers Recovery Plan, now that the Fishers City Council voted Friday morning to approve the establishment of a Fishers City Health Department, then also approved $2.5 million be taken from the city’s cash reserves and used to fund a COVID-19 testing program and local small business loans to help them get back on their feet once given the go-ahead to open again.

I expressed several comments on all this as part of my Larry’s Log daily commentaries (find them at this link).

I hate to be a downer, but if we expect to face this challenge, we need to be real.  This virus will be holding us back for a long time to come, short of some miracle treatment no one can envision at this time.

Axios.com founders Jim VandaHei and Mike Allen posted a story to their news Web site April 25th, laying out the likely grim near future.  They quote Bill Gates, Anthony Fauci, and CDC Director Rober Redfield.  They all say novel coronavirus restrictions will be with us for many months to come….possibly even longer.  Here is a passage from that Axios piece:

“Every big business and school in America is privately planning for the possibility of working and learning at home this fall. Schools have no choice but to contemplate the risks of kids picking up the virus in school, and infecting parents and grandparents at home. CEOs are having the same conversations about the workplace.”

Axios also says the real national unemployment rate is somewhere between 25% and 45%.  So, our unemployment rate in America could already exceed 25%, the highest jobless rate measured during the great depression, in 1933.

It will take a massive and coordinated effort to avoid what Axios just described.  That is a scary scenario.

In my view, that’s why Fishers Mayor Scott Fadness is moving quickly and aggressively to take care of the health and economy of those living and conducting business in his city.  The situation is serious.  Mayor Fadness, as I have said and written before, is going out on a big limb with his Fishers Recovery Plan.  Let’s see what happens next.

In talking with Delaware Township Trustee Debbie Driskell a few days ago, she said her work load has tripled in the past few weeks.  Fall Creek Township Trustee Doug Allman has not seen his township’s work load increase much lately, but his operation is distributing much more food from the food bank in the past two months.  Here is my podcast conversation with Doug Allman.