FREE ACCESS: GCGH confirms first COVID-19 case in Greene County

Saturday, March 28, 2020

By Patti Danner, Editor

Greene County General Hospital, in conjunction with the Greene County Health Department, confirms that a GCGH patient has tested positive for COVID-19. The patient was tested at GCGH though the Indiana State Department of Health. Proper personal protective equipment (PPE) was appropriately utilized throughout the patient’s visit. No additional information about the patient will be released due to privacy laws. GCGH and the Greene County Health Department continue to follow ISDH and Center for Disease Control (CDC) guidelines. In addition, Greene County Health Department’s Health Officer, Dr. Pete Powers, continues to urge the public to stay home.

State and local health officials stressed that anyone with symptoms should call their doctor or hospital before seeking care. Advanced notice allows our providers to prepare for the patient’s arrival, reducing exposure to staff and other patients. The GCGH main phone number is 812-847-2281, the My Clinics phone number is 812-847-4481 and TeamOrtho’s phone number is 812-847-3381

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Since the test was actually administered at Greene County General Hospital not another facility, I would say, "Yes, they are sure." The previous test was administered at an out of county facility with the patient's county of residence reported incorrectly.

-- Posted by alwaysinterested on Sat, Mar 28, 2020, at 7:29 PM
I sure hope that whoever this person is, they fully recover from the virus. While I do understand the privacy issues here with not disclosing this person's identity, I do wonder however if there steps being taken to identify and contact those who may have come into contact with this person?

-- Posted by Granny47471 on Sat, Mar 28, 2020, at 8:03 PM
I agree with Granny47471 Don't need to know the name but would like to know where they caught it and who they have been around.

-- Posted by Locustdweller on Sat, Mar 28, 2020, at 8:58 PM
That's exactly what the County Health Department does, tracks the persons movements and contacts. If you came in contact with them you will know.

-- Posted by GBARK on Sun, Mar 29, 2020, at 11:50 AM
Doesn't it make more sense to suspend the privacy ruling in the interest of containing this virus. If we were informed that "so and so" has tested positive then all people who had any kind of contact during the previous 14 days could come forward to be tested instead of unknowingly going around infecting others before symptoms appear. There would be a far better chance of me remembering I was near this person than that he or she would remember being near me.

-- Posted by Rawhite34 on Sun, Mar 29, 2020, at 3:15 PM
Yes, but how well can they really track the person's movements? They are some great people, those who work with the County Health Department, but they are limited with personnel, funds, etc and ultimately they are relying this individual to tell them everywhere they went and with whom they came into contact with. I don't know what the solution is, but I don't think that even temporarily suspending privacy rulings would be in anyone's best interest. Just imagine, this individual's identity is revealed, someone who came into contact with them while contagious and then they get upset or one of their family members gets upset. Who knows what some idiot might try to do if this were to happen to them or a loved one? It might be nice if they would give dates and times (as close as possible) and locations where this person was. That way if someone happened to have been at that particular location in the timeframe given they may have a better idea if they had come into contact.

-- Posted by Granny47471 on Sun, Mar 29, 2020, at 3:54 PM
If each positive person was identified people would be providing the information, the health dept wouldn't be tracking them down, people would be coming to them. Is it worth spreading this and having people dying because someone "might" fly off the handle?

-- Posted by Rawhite34 on Sun, Mar 29, 2020, at 4:34 PM
What if this person worked in fast food with lots of people coming and going?

-- Posted by Locustdweller on Sun, Mar 29, 2020, at 8:49 PM
When will there be any new news

-- Posted by hellomisskitty66 on Mon, Mar 30, 2020, at 12:58 PM
where was the second case in the county tested at?

-- Posted by ghitch75 on Tue, Mar 31, 2020, at 3:27 PM
HIPAA!!!

-- Posted by jrhall59 on Tue, Mar 31, 2020, at 6:24 PM
I understand why people are scared, but the privacy laws are in place so red necks won’t be going after someone who is sick and their families. It’s no fault of their own! We don’t need mass hysteria either. This is what irks me about living here. This is a global pandemic and it effects all of us. Linton, Indiana and Greene County can have low cases if people act smart, keep social distancing at Walmart, and realize it’s your actions too along with them!

-- Posted by lovealways on Wed, Apr 1, 2020, at 4:39 PM
lovealways you don't sound like you love "rednecks"???

pretty racists comment.....a better word would have been "people"..

if you don't like Greene county.....move...

-- Posted by ghitch75 on Wed, Apr 1, 2020, at 5:38 PM
> pretty racists comment.....a better word would have been "people"..

That's not racist. "Redneck" isn't a race. It's a lifestyle choice people make.

-- Posted by per moenia urbis on Wed, Apr 1, 2020, at 6:06 PM

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