(Greencastle, Ind.) Putnam County officials announced today there are currently 42 confirmed COVID-19 cases in Putnam County.

The Putnam County Health Dept. is continuing to investigate all confirmed cases of COVID-19 and notifying individuals who have been in direct contact with the patient. If you do not get a call, then you are most likely not a direct contact during the infectious period, according to the Indiana State Dept. of Health guidelines.

Additional updates include:

Some Putnam County offices are open for essential business on Friday. Several county offices are open tomorrow for in-person contact. Please reach out to the office before heading to the Courthouse. Social distancing will be in effect. Visit www.pchosp.org/COVID-19 -updates for the full list.

Mental health resources are available for county residents, including for those in situations involving domestic abuse. Putnam County Hospital’s team is sharing resources to help the community navigate these challenging times. Visit www.pchosp.org to learn more.

Tips for running essential errands. Essential errands, like grocery shopping and picking up prescriptions are still a necessity while we stay-at-home. The CDC has some helpful tips on ways to stay safe – including washing your hands after unpacking groceries – to protect yourself from COVID-19: www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/daily-life- coping/essential-goods-services.html

Stay at home if you can, and practice social distancing. With state and federal leaders forecasting a surge of COVID-19 cases in the coming weeks, please continue to stay at home when possible and practice social distancing. To learn more, visit https://coronavirus.in.gov .

It is imperative individuals take action to avoid COVID-19 to prevent its spread. A number of preventive steps include:

Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol.

Don’t touch your eyes, nose, or mouth, especially with unwashed hands. Avoid close contact with people who are showing symptoms of illness. Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces.

Cover your cough or sneezes with a tissue or sneeze into your elbow.

Throw the tissue in the garbage and make sure to clean your hands afterwards. Stay home when you are sick.

Wear face coverings in public when performing essential duties. We are all in this together.

Putnam County is providing regular updates on COVID-19 to citizens as part of its effort to complement the daily updates from the Indiana State Dept. of Health. The updates can be accessed via www.coronavirus.in.gov . According to the ISDH, the number of tests is provisional and reflects only those reported to ISDH. Numbers should not be characterized as a comprehensive total.

To learn more about Putnam County’s coordinated response to COVID-19, please visit the Putnam County Hospital at www.pchosp.org/covid-19-updates or the Putnam County Health Department at www.putnamhealthindiana.org.