Updated May 22, 2020 12:20 p.m.

Useful links regarding COVID-19

• Center for Disease Control: Coronavirus (COVID-19)
• Indiana State Department of Health Coronavirus Response Site (updated frequently)
• Center for Disease Control: Clean Hands Saves Lives
• World Health Organization Coronavirus/COVID-19 Mythbusters
• Download the free Coronavirus book for children from Candlewick Press
• Access the ProQuest Coronavirus Research Database

Related links:

• Brain Boosters: HCPL youth program video shorts, eBooks and kids’ activities
• HCPL adult program video shorts
• Current list of free public WiFi locations in Harrison County
• Request an absentee ballot for the June 2 primary
• Harrison County Community Resources

Per the Harrison County Emergency Notification System: The Harrison County Health Department confirms 111 cases of COVID-19 as of 4/22/20 in Harrison County residents. Dr. Andrew Morton, Harrison County Health Officer, today announced the fourth confirmed death from COVID-19.  The individual was a female from Harrison County. The person, who was 99 years of age, suffered from underlying medical conditions. No further information about the patient will be released due to privacy laws.

21 April 2020

• Per the Harrison County Emergency Notification System: Dr. Andrew Morton, Harrison County Health Officer, today announced the third confirmed death from COVID-19.  The individual was an adult male from Harrison County. The person, who was 79 years of age suffered from underlying medical conditions. No further information about the patient will be released due to privacy laws. The Harrison County Health Department confirms 106 cases of COVID-19 today in Harrison County residents. The Health Department continues to monitor this evolving situation and will make further recommendations as necessary.
• Harrison County Public Library facilities will remain closed through Sunday, May 3, to comply with Governor Holcomb’s extended stay-at-home order. Please click here for more information.

20 April 2020

• The Harrison County Health Department confirms 105 cases of COVID-19 in Harrison County residents.
• UPDATE: The State Department of Health has opened the drive through testing at Ivy Tech Sellersburg to anyone from Indiana who has symptoms of COVID-19.
  From the Harrison County Emergency Notification System: Covid testing is available for symptomatic health care workers, first responders, or essential workers.  It is available for symptomatic persons that live with one of those workers and also to high risk individuals that have symptoms of COVID-19 and have underlying conditions such as diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease or obesity.  This is a drive through test site at IVY TECH, 8204 Highway 311, Sellersburg 47172. You must be an Indiana resident, and have state issue identification, limit one test per vehicle until supplies run out. The Sellersburg drive through testing will be Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday from 9am to 6pm or until supplies run out.

19 April 2020

The Harrison County Health Department confirms 100 cases of COVID-19 today in Harrison County residents. This is an increase in 11 cases; 10 of these cases were identified in a long-term care facility, 9 of the 10 positives were reported to be asymptomatic. The Health Department continues to monitor this evolving situation and will make further recommendations as necessary.

18 April 2020

The Harrison County Health Department confirms 89 cases of COVID-19 today  in Harrison County residents.

17 April 2020

The Harrison County Health Department confirms 87 confirmed cases of COVID-19 today  in Harrison County residents.  This is an increase in 20 cases. 17 of these cases were identified in a Long Term Care facility, 16 of these 17 positives were reported to be asymptomatic.  As the Health Department expands testing, they anticipate an increase in confirmed cases. Dr. Morton, says that “We encourage all Harrison County residents to continue their Stay at Home efforts. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that everyone should wear a cloth face cover when they have to go out in public. The Harrison County Health Department is working closely with the Indiana State Department of Health and Tyson Foods to investigate 3 cases of COVID-19 at its Corydon plant. All individuals are quarantined and health officials are working with the plant to ensure that all appropriate infection-control protocols are being followed.”

16 April 2020

• Today the Harrison County Health Department confirms 67 cases of COVID-19 in Harrison County.
• Click here to download the free Coronavirus book for children, available from Candlewick Press. This informative guide explains why everyday routines have been disrupted and lays out how everyone can do their part to help.
• Indiana State department of health has expanded testing for anyone who is experiencing symptoms of COVID-19.  The drive through testing site is at IVY TECH in Sellersburg, 8204 County Road 311.  The hours are from 9 am to 6pm Thursday and Friday this week.  We are encouraging anyone who is experiencing symptoms to take advantage of this testing.
• The Harrison County Health Department reports that the Harrison Healthcare Center in Corydon has confirmed 6 cases of COVID-19. Dr. Andrew Morton, Harrison County Health Officer, said that “We know that people older than 60 with underlying health conditions are most at risk during this pandemic. We ask that everyone join in our efforts to protect these vulnerable people by not visiting long-term care facilities, but rather using other options, such as offering residents access to mobile devices to continue virtual contact with loved ones through email or video-call applications.”  The Health Department is working closely with state and federal officials to implement infection control protocols to prevent further spread within the facility.

15 April 2020

• The Harrison County Health Department confirms 63 total cases of COVID-19 in Harrison County.
• Click here to access the ProQuest Coronavirus Research Database, now available to access with your HCPL card number. If you do not have an HCPL card, click here to request a Digital Access Card. ProQuest launched the Coronavirus Research Database, giving all ProQuest users no-cost access to full-text content covering all facets of COVID-19 and related infectious diseases. The Coronavirus Research Database saves time and improves outcomes by aggregating authoritative content from ProQuest with content made available by members of the International Association of STM Publishers – including Springer Nature, Taylor & Francis and The BMJ. Journals, preprints, conference proceedings and dissertations provide comprehensive coverage of COVID-19 and other past coronavirus outbreaks, such as MERS and SARS, for context around the current global pandemic. Full-text content in the database is available either directly from ProQuest or via links to publisher sites.

14 April 2020

The Harrison County Health Department confirms 61 total cases of COVID-19 in Harrison County today.

13 April 2020

The Harrison County Health Department confirms 58 total cases of COVID-19 in Harrison County residents.

12 April 2020

Today the Harrison County Health Department confirms 57 total cases of COVID-19 in Harrison County residents.

11 April 2020

Per The Corydon Democrat: Dr. Andrew Morton, Harrison County’s health officer, announced on 4/10 that a second county resident has died from COVID-19. The individual was an 86-year-old woman, who died today at Baptist Health Floyd in New Albany. She had been hospitalized in critical condition as a COVID-19 patient. Health officials encourage residents to continue to follow Gov. Eric Holcomb’s stay-at-home executive order, which emphasizes that individuals should leave their home for essential activities only.
If you are ill, stay home. If you need to seek medical care, call ahead so that your health care provider can take steps to protect others from exposure to COVID-19. To date, 6,907 Hoosiers, including 54 Harrison Countians, have received positive tests for COVID-19. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends wearing cloth face coverings in public settings where other social distancing measures are difficult to maintain.

10 April 2020

• The Harrison County Health Department confirms 54 total cases of COVID-19 in Harrison County residents.
• Charter Communications will offer Spectrum Internet Assist and Spectrum broadband, including in-home Wi-Fi, to new subscriber households with K-12 and/or college students, as well as teachers, for 60 days.  Please click here for more information.

9 April 2020

Today the Harrison County Health Department confirms 51 total cases of COVID-19 in Harrison County residents.

8 April 2020

• The Harrison County Health Department reports 49 confirmed Covid-19 Cases.
• The list of Harrison County free public WiFi locations has been updated. Please click here to view.

7 April 2020

• The Harrison County Health Department reports 48 confirmed Covid-19 Cases in Harrison County.
• In order to comply with Governor Holcomb’s stay-at-home order, HCPL will remain closed through Tuesday, April 21. Please click here for more information.
• From the Harrison County Emergency Notification System:

INDIANAPOLIS —The Indiana State Department of Health (ISDH) today announced that 568 additional Hoosiers have been diagnosed with COVID-19 through testing at ISDH, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and private laboratories. That brings to 5,507 the total number of Indiana residents known to have the novel coronavirus following corrections to the previous day’s total.

A total of 173 Hoosiers have died to date. Deaths are reported based on when data are received by ISDH and occurred over multiple days.

 To date, 28,764 tests have been reported to ISDH, up from 26,192 on Monday.

Marion County had the most new cases, at 193. Other counties with more than 10 new cases were Allen (12), Clark (11), Floyd (16), Hamilton (22), Hancock (14), Harrison (11), Hendricks (27), Johnson (19), Lake (52), Madison (34) and St. Joseph (17). The                Lake County totals include results from East Chicago and Gary, which have their own health departments.

The complete list of counties with cases is included in the ISDH COVID-19 dashboard at coronavirus.in.gov, which will be updated daily at 10 a.m. Cases are listed by county of residence. Private lab reporting may be delayed and will be reflected in the map and count when results are received at ISDH.

• Please click here for a list of locations in Harrison County that offer free public Wi-Fi access.

6 April 2020

The Harrison County Health Department confirms 44 total cases of COVID-19 as of 4/6/20 in Harrison County Residents.

5 April 2020

The Harrison County Health Department confirms 38 total cases of COVID-19 as of 4/5/20 in Harrison County Residents.

4 April 2020

The Harrison County Health Department confirms 29 total cases of COVID-19 as of 4/4/20 in Harrison County Residents.

3 April 2020

• The Harrison County Health Department confirms 27 total cases of COVID-19 as of 4/3/20 in Harrison County Residents
• From the Harrison County Emergency Notification System:  Andrew Morton, MD, Harrison County Health Officer today announced the first death from COVID-19.  The individual was an adult male from Harrison County. The adult died at Baptist Hospital East, Louisville on 4/2/20. The person, who was 38 years of age had been hospitalized as a COVID-19 patient and also suffered from underlying medical conditions. No further information about the patient will be released due to privacy laws.
• If you are ill, stay home. If you need to seek medical care, call ahead so that your healthcare provider can take steps to protect others from exposure to COVID-19
• COVID-19 is a respiratory illness caused by a novel, or new, coronavirus that has not been previously identified. It is not the same as the type of coronavirus that causes the common cold.  To date, 3,039 Hoosiers have received positive tests for COVID-19.
• COVID-19 is most commonly spread from an infected person to others through:
  Respiratory droplets released into the air by coughing and sneezing;
  Close personal contact, such as touching or shaking hands;
  Touching an object or surface with the virus on it and then touching your mouth, nose, or eyes before washing your hands; and
  Rarely, fecal contamination.
• Many people who acquire COVID-19 will have mild symptoms, can self-isolate and do not need to be tested. Older individuals and those with underlying medical conditions are at higher risk for severe illness. The best ways to protect yourself are to wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, avoid touching your face with unwashed hands, avoid close contact with people who are sick, stay home when you’re sick, cover your cough or sneeze and clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces.

For a list of counties with positive cases, visit the Indiana State Department of Health’s COVID-19 website at https://coronavirus.IN.gov. The dashboard will be updated daily at 10 a.m.  The website also includes guidance and a list of frequently asked questions.

2 April 2020

• The Harrison County Health Department confirms 24 total cases of COVID-19 as of 4/2/20 in Harrison County Residents.
• Please click here for a list of Harrison County Emergency Social Services Resources

1 April 2020

• The Harrison County Health Department confirms two new cases of COVID-19, bringing the total number of cases to 18 as of 04/01/20 in Harrison County.
• Please click here for a list of Harrison County emergency COVID-19 local respources

31 March 2020

The Harrison County Health Department confirms two new cases of COVID-19, bringing the total number of cases to 16 as of 3/31/20 in Harrison County.

29 March 2020

The Harrison County Health Department confirms one new case of COVID-19, bringing the total number of cases to 14 as of 3/29/20 in Harrison County.

28 March 2020

The Harrison County Health Department confirms thirteen total cases of COVID-19 as of 3/28/20 in Harrison County Residents.
The Health Department continues to monitor this evolving situation and will make further recommendations as necessary. The Harrison County Health Department is working closely with local and state officials to ensure that contacts of the patient are identified and monitored and that all infection control protocols are being followed.

27 March 2020

• Harrison County Health Department now reports 9 total confirmed cases of Covid-19 in Harrison County.
• The Harrison County Health Department confirms fourth case of COVID-19. Confirmed case reports visiting the following locations: Spring Valley Funeral Home: 03/23/2020. Individuals who visited this location at that time are advised to monitor for symptoms of COVID-19.  If you experience symptoms contact your healthcare provider and inform them that you have been exposed to COVID-19.

26 March 2020

The Harrison County Health Department confirms third case of COVID-19. Confirmed case reports visiting the following locations:
Dr. Bonacum, Corydon Medical Associates: 03/23/2020
Transformation House, Laconia: 3/16/2020 and 3/17/2020
Butterfly House, Laconia: 3/16/2020 and 3/17/2020
Sam’s Club, Clarksville: 3/16/2020 and 3/17/2020
Kroger, Clarksville: 3/16/2020 and 3/17/2020
Grace Tabernacle, Laconia: 3/15/2020 and 3/16/2020.
Individuals who visited these locations at that time are advised to monitor for symptoms of COVID-19.  If you experience symptoms contact your healthcare provider and inform them that you have been exposed to COVID-19.

25 March 2020

The Harrison County Health Department has reported a second case of COVID-19 in Harrison County.  The patient is stable and on home quarantine.  Please stay at home when possible, practice social distancing of at least 6 feet, and wash you hands frequently.

23 March 2020

• To comply with Governor Holcomb’s stay-at-home order, HCPL will remain closed through April 7th. Click here for more details
• Click here for information: Governor Holcomb issues Stay-at-Home Order for Hoosiers

20 March 2020

• From the Harrison County Emergency Notification System regarding the first confirmed COVID-19 case in Harrison County: This confirmed case reports visiting Horseshoe Casino on 2-24 and 3-16; the Wells Fargo Bank State Street in New Albany on 3-16 and Dr. Hocker’s office in New Albany 3-16-2020. Individuals who visited those locations  at that time are advised to monitor for symptoms of COVID 19.  If you experience symptoms, contact your healthcare provider. The patient is stable and on home quarantine.  More information will be provided as appropriate.
• Click here to read the statement from WorkOne regarding online filing for your unemployment insurance benefit 

19 March 2020

• Click here for a list of Harrison County food pantries and free hot meals compiled by the Chamber of Commerce and Harrison County Community Services
• The State Emergency Registry of Volunteers for Indiana continues to expand the volunteer pool locally and across the state. If you or anyone you know would like to volunteer, please go to www.serv-in.org,  select “register now”and create an account. To register locally, select Harrison County Health Department as your organization and follow the directions. The site will walk you through creating your account.
• The Indiana Department of Workforce Development would like to assist employers, workers, and agents during this emergency. If your place of business is temporarily closing or reducing worker hours, you can file for unemployment insurance benefits. This must be done online through a computer or smart phone. Visit unemployment.in.gov for Frequently Asked Questions, video tutorials, and a link to file for unemployment insurance.
• You can turn your iOS or Android smartphone into a source for internet that laptops, tablets, and other phones can use. Click here for instructions to turn your phone into a Wi-Fi hotspot 

17 March 2020
Click here to read the most current statement from the Harrison County Public Library

16 March 2020
As a public and staff health measure, the Harrison County Public Library will close to the public from Tuesday, March 17 through March 31, 2020.

DO YOUR PART TO SLOW THE SPREAD OF COVID-19 

For Harrison County Residents, the Harrison County Health Department is implementing the following measures: 

• all businesses that have the capability to work from home should implement such practices now, 
• avoid social gatherings in groups of 10 or more, 
• unnecessary shopping trips and social visits should be avoided, 
• childcare facilities that serve more than 10 children shall close, 
• community gyms and other indoor venues where groups of people congregate should be closed, 
• for all businesses including shopping centers social distancing practices should take place at all times. 
• If you are sick you should restrict activities outside your home.
•  If ill, do not go to work, school, or public areas and avoid using public transportation, ride sharing, or taxis. 
• If you feel that you need to be seen by a doctor, call their office for further instructions. 
• If you have an emergency call 911 and let them know what symptoms you are experiencing. 

These measures are vital to protect our most vulnerable population, the healthcare providers we depend on, and help conserve resources. Please take them seriously!  

The Health Department continues to monitor this evolving situation and will make further recommendations as necessary