Indiana coronavirus updates: 14 more deaths, 2,159 total cases

This blog was maintained on Tuesday, March 31. For updates from Wednesday, click here. 

Indiana Gov. Eric Holcomb addressed abortions and the extension of the state's ban on dining in at restaurants and bars during his press briefing on Tuesday. ISDH commissioner Kristina Box discussed Tuesday's increase in reported cases and deaths, cautioning that "we have a very long way to go before the peak."

Read more from the press conference. 

Salvation Army of Indiana receives $5 million from Lilly Endowment

The Salvation Army of Indiana received $5 million from Lilly Endowment Inc. to support COVID-19 response. 

"The Salvation Army is deeply commitment to alleviating human suffering - it's in their DNA," said Ronni Kloth, Lilly Endowment's vice president for community development, in a release. "Through outreach to low-income individuals and families in need of food and shelter as well as counseling, mentoring and spiritual support, they care for communities every day. In times of crisis the Salvation Army is able to spring into action to help even more people through difficult times. We're grateful for how the Salvation Army is helping our nation during this pandemic."

The Salvation Army in Indiana has set up drive-through pantries and take-out feeding programs. It says the grant will help sustain programming once the coronavirus crisis ends, including emergency assistance, youth programs, summer camps and rehabilitation services.

“We are all impacted by the coronavirus, but our brothers and sisters living in poverty are feeling it more significantly, which is causing a strain on our resources,” said Major Robert Webster, divisional commander for The Salvation Army’s Indiana Division. “As our staff and volunteers are called to go above and beyond in service, we have been praying faithfully for a miracle to make it possible for us to continue ministering now and into the future, here in Indiana. May God bless those who will be served today, tomorrow and in the future because of this amazing gift of love.”

— Matthew VanTryon

Indy Parks closing basketball and tennis courts

To encourage Hoosiers to maintain social distancing guidelines, Indy Parks is closing all of its basketball and tennis courts.

Basketball hoops will have added hardware to prevent play, Indy Parks spokesperson Ronnetta Spalding said. More than 90 basketball courts will be closed.

IMPD and Indy Parks announced the closures in a Tuesday afternoon news release. Playgrounds had already been closed at city parks to limit spread of the virus.

“Our team wholeheartedly supports fitness and recreational activities,” Indy Parks director Linda Broadfoot said in the news release, “but at this time we need the public’s help to practice social distancing, take health precautions, and avoid gathering in groups.”

Parks programming and rental registrations are suspended, while parks facilities like family centers are closed.

Last week, Carmel Clay Parks & Recreation closed a section of the Monon Greenway because users were not following social distancing guidelines.

— Ethan May

Holcomb extends restaurant, bar dine-in ban through April 6 

Indiana Gov. Eric Holcomb issued an executive order Tuesday extending the dine-in ban on restaurants, bars and nightclubs through April 6. They are still allowed to provide take-out, drive-thru and delivery services.

Holcomb issued two executive orders Monday regarding food and dining, including one enforcing stiffer penalties for establishments that continue to allow dine-in patrons and one easing restrictions on alcohol permits that allowed carryout. 

The governor initially ordered establishments to stop dine-in services March 16. 

-- Matthew VanTryon

Tide offers free laundry services for Indianapolis front-line responders

Tide is offering free laundry and dry-cleaning to medical personnel, police officers and firefighters in Indianapolis, along with Houston and Phoenix, until April 30. Six locations around Indianapolis are available, including downtown, Zionsville, Noblesville and Fishers.

Responders are asked to bring their laundry in a bag (trash bags are fine). There is a limit of four 13-gallon bags per household per week. Typical turnaround time is two days.

Details regarding the identification process, exclusions and addresses for locations can be found at https://hope.tidecleaners.com/.

— Matthew VanTryon

Department of Revenue announces taxpayer relief services

The Indiana Department of Revenue has outlined temporary taxpayer relief initiatives to support Hoosiers during the COVID-19 health emergency.

“Now is the time where we have to find new ways to support our fellow Hoosiers and assist them during this challenging situation,” DOR Commissioner Bob Grennes said in a release. “The entire DOR team cares deeply about the work we do and serving Hoosiers, and this is a time when we double down on our commitment to serve."

Some of the initiatives are listed below. For a full list, visit DOR's website.

Debt Collection Relief:

• Suspending the creation of most tax filing bills, new warrants and liens. Prior audit and legal bills will continue to be issued to protect statutes of limitation.
• Suspending creation of new sheriff and collection agency collection cases.
• Suspending creation of new levy and garnishment involuntary collection actions.
• Canceling current levy and garnishment involuntary collection actions.
• Offering installment payment plan agreements up to 60 months and working to modify existing installment payment agreements.
• Suspending payment plan terminations for missed payments.

Audit and Legal Protest Relief:

• Extending the current 60-day legal protest window an additional 60 days for a total of 120 days.
• Extending the current 30-day protest rehearing window an additional 60 days for a total of 90 days.

Hardship & Offer-In-Comprise (OIC) Support

• Relaxing certain record submission requirements for new case creation.
• Extending the time frame for record submission on all pending hardship cases until July 31, 2020.
• Extending new hardship and OIC case processing deadlines.
• Supporting all requests to adjust payment plan terms.

Filing, Payment & Registration Extensions

• Extending certain individual and corporate filing and payment deadlines.
• Extending certain motor carrier permitting, registration and International Fuel Tax Agreement filing and payment requirements.
• Extending expiring Registered Retail Merchant Certificates to June 30, 2020.
• Implementing case-specific penalty adjustments for late filing and payments.
• Expedited Refund Processing
• Reallocating resources to accelerate certain refund case reviews and approvals.

DOR customer service can be reached Monday through Friday 8 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. local time at 317-232-2240.

"We recommend Hoosiers continue to comply with all tax filing and payment requirements, be responsive to DOR correspondence and to contact our team if they have questions or need assistance,” Grennes added.

Updated cases

Indiana as of Tuesday had surpassed 2,000 confirmed coronavirus cases with 2,159, according to the state dashboard. Meanwhile, Monday was among the deadliest days, with an additional 14 deaths reported for a total of 49 deaths.

The number of confirmed cases for central Indiana surpassed 1,000. Marion County had a total of 964, with 170 new cases. Hamilton and Johnson Counties each had more than 100 cases, with 127 and 101 respectively. Hendricks County had 70 cases.

Five of the new deaths occurred in Marion County for a total of 17 deaths.

Lake County is the only other place in the state with more than 100 cases, 50 of which were new, with 146 cases and five deaths.

Decatur, Franklin and Ripley Counties, not as populous as other areas of the state, also saw a high number of cases, with 47, 35 and 31 respectively. Madison County had 38.

Monday afternoon Franklin County health officials said in a release that two of the deaths occurred in men in their 70s, one of whom was hospitalized in Indiana and the other in Ohio. County health officials also said that one man with the coronavirus in his 80s was recovering after having been on a ventilator.

All but 11 Indiana counties have at least one case of the virus that causes the disease called COVID-19.

In all, at least 13,373 people have been tested for the virus.

--Shari Rudavsky

Indy firefighters, police test positive

A dozen Indianapolis police officers and 12 city firefighters have tested positive for COVID-19, officials said Tuesday. 

"The officers are self-quarantined at home and being monitored for any progression of symptoms," Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department spokeswoman Aliya Wishner said.

Two of the officers tested positive last week, while the rest were reported Tuesday morning. Wishner said 26 other officers have tested negative.

The department has about 1,700 officers.

Additionally, 12 Indianapolis Fire Department firefighters are in home quarantine after testing positive for the virus, Batallion Chief Rita Reith said Tuesday afternoon.

Reith said the quarantine is having no impact on service. IFD has 1,200 firefighters at 43 stations.

Full story.

— Vic Ryckaert

Free childcare for Boone County first responders, medical professionals

Mental Health America of Boone County is offering free emergency childcare for first responders and medical professionals who continue to work during the coronavirus outbreak.

Officials said the service will be available from 6:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. at the center, 1122 N. Lebanon St. in Lebanon.

“Amid the current world pandemic surrounding the COVID-19 virus, Mental Health America of Boone County is permitted to operate as an emergency childcare facility for children of first responders, medical professionals, healthcare workers and other critical staff,” said a statement from the organization.

Rules for the service include no parents/guardians entering the building when dropping off or picking up children; children not being permitted to bring any toys or other items from home; and all child lunches must be brought in a clear, large Ziploc-style bag. An afternoon snack with be provided, and lunches must be ready to eat.

Children will have temperatures checked upon entry and every two hours following, officials said.

A full list of rules and requirements for the service can be found along with the official registration documents at http://pdf.ac/athWXd.

-- Justin L. Mack

Susan G. Komen walk postponed to Aug. 1

Susan G. Komen Central Indiana has moved the upcoming More Than Pink walk from April 18 to Aug. 1.

The fundraising event will still begin at 10 a.m. at Historic Military Park at White River State Park, 601 W. New York St.

“While this is incredibly disappointing, the health and safety of our constituents, volunteers, sponsors and the community at large remain our priority,” officials said in a statement. “We are continuing to monitor the situation and we remain here for the women and men touched by breast cancer who need our assistance.”

According to the organization, funds raised for the event support local breast health programs including screening, diagnostic testing, treatment assistance and more.

“No matter what is happening in the world, breast cancer does not stop and neither do we; as long as breast cancer is here, we are here to fight it with you,” officials said.

For more information, visit www.komencentralindiana.org.

Updates from Monday

Indiana is bracing for the coming surge of coronavirus cases. In a Monday afternoon press conference, Gov. Eric Holcomb and state health officials outlined the steps hospitals are taking to handle patients, including doubling the number of ventilators and increasing ICU capacity. Read more. 

As of Monday morning's update from the Indiana State Department of Health, 1,786 Hoosiers have been confirmed to have the coronavirus. Thirty-five people in Indiana have died and at least 11,658 people have been tested.

These numbers will be updated Tuesday at about 10 a.m.

More coronavirus news from Indiana that you should know:

• Restrictions to stem the tide of COVID-19 means restaurants can't offer dine-in services. But many are finding that carry out and delivery just aren't enough.
• As restaurants suffer, so do the farmers who supply them with food. 
• If you need access to food, there's an app that can help. 
• Financial planners say these are the steps you can take now to help weather the storm of coronavirus. 

National and international news

• The United States had more than 164,000 confirmed cases early Tuesday, according to the Johns Hopkins University data dashboard. Worldwide, nearly 787,000 people have been infected with the virus and more than 37,800 have died.
• Workers at an Amazon warehouse on Staten Island, New York, walked out during lunch Monday, over concerns about safety at the job site. Amazon faces another potential workplace disruption Tuesday as some employees have planned a "sick out" over demands for better conditions including double pay because of the hazards of working during the pandemic.
• Officials in Illinois announced plans Monday to convert Chicago’s McCormick Place Convention Center into an Alternate Care Facility with a capacity for up to 3,000 COVID-19 patients. Illinois is seeing a surge of coronavirus cases, with a total of 5,057 cases, including 73 deaths, as of Monday.

• The USNS Comfort, a Navy hospital ship with 1,000 beds and 12 operating rooms, arrived in New York harbor Monday and could be ready for patients as soon as Tuesday. The ship will be used for non-coronavirus patients to help alleviate the strain on local area hospitals.
• Homeless people on the streets of Las Vegas are sleeping in squares painted on the asphalt of a soccer stadium parking lot to maintain social distance – many of them without padding. 

— USA TODAY

This blog will be updated throughout the day.