Due to heightened public health alerts related to 2019 Novel Coronavirus, more widely known as COVID-19, a local unified community preparedness and response coalition formed, comprised of representatives from the City of Columbus Mayor’s office, Columbus Regional Health, Bartholomew County Health Department, Bartholomew County Emergency Management, Bartholomew Consolidated School Corporation, and Cummins Inc.

    The coalition held its first meeting Feb. 28, and will continue to meet and communicate regularly and release updates and information to the community. This cross-collaborative group is coordinating efforts to prepare for, plan, monitor and respond to this evolving international situation on a local level.  

    COVID-19 is a virus identified as the cause of an outbreak of respiratory illness first detected in Wuhan, China. Cases have continued to spread internationally, including to the United States. International health officials have warned the virus will likely spread within the United States, and urged people to remain calm, and adopt precautionary and preventive measures.

    Focus from the local coalition is on education and prevention. This is the right time for the community to begin preparing and for residents and members of the local workforce to become educated and aware. There are no current confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Columbus or Indiana; however, the best approach at this point is to be proactive in preventive measures.