(Greencastle, Ind.) Putnam County officials provided a daily COVID-19 update to the publictoday.

Currently, there are 25 confirmed cases in Putnam County. The Indiana State Department of Health (ISDH) has begun sharing the number of individuals who have been tested on its website. 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.

Additional updates include:

Some Putnam County offices are open for essential business on Thursday. The following offices are open for essential business on Thursday, April 9, from 11 a.m. – 2p.m.: Assessor’s Office, Plat Office, Auditor’s Office, Recorder’s Office, and Treasurer’s Office. The courthouse will be closed on April 10 for Good Friday.

The Putnam County Courthouse remains open, but only citizens who are performing essential business, such as court-related matters, are allowed past the first floor. The Prosecutor and Courts are staffed in some capacity throughout the day. The Clerk’s Office is open every day from 8 a.m. – 4 p.m. by appointment only. While some offices may or may not have a “physical” presence, a representative is continuing to serve the public.

The City of Greencastle is closed on April 10 for Good Friday.

Governor Holcomb extends the stay-at-home order to April 2020, and introduces new restrictions . Visit https://calendar.in.gov/site/gov/event/governor-issues-new-stay-at- home-order/ for more information.

Mental health resources for county residents . Putnam County Hospital’s team is sharing resources to help the community navigate these challenging times. Visit www.pchosp.org to learn more.

The Putnam County Hospital website has information about:

How can you thank a healthcare professional? During this unprecedented time, thesupport and prayers that Putnam County Hospital has received is very much appreciated. For the safety of our staff, patients, and community we ask that you sent any thank you, videos, or signs via https://pchosp.org/thankyoupch. We will send these messages of encouragement out to staff and put them throughout the facility. Thank you to all of those that have reached out to show support for our staff, they are the heart of Putnam County Hospital.

Putnam County’s ‘Masked Mommas,’ have made nearly 2,000 masks for county healthcare professionals and essential workers. These dedicated volunteers are workingaround the clock to fulfill orders. Visit their Facebook page to learn more.

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 ISDH. The ISDH updates occur at 10 a.m. and can be accessed via www.coronavirus.in.gov . Please refer to the above statement regarding the number of tests the ISDH lists on its website.

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.