CORONAVIRUS COVERAGE 9PM 4-15-20

CORONAVIRUS COVERAGE 9PM 4-15-20

Evening.

Extreme frustrations this week as the coronavirus spikes across the region.

Tr?state nursing homes have been really impacted by this pandemic?

And business owners say they're losing hope.

Despite efforts to slow the spread?

Leaders expect the problem to get worse?

Before it gets any better.

In indiana?

More than 8?

Hundred people are infected.

An uptick in daveez county?

But vanderburgh and warrick counties are seeing the most cases in our region.

The vanderburgh county health department says there's some good news to share this week?

As more than half of the people infected have recovered.

In kentucky?

Nearly ?

Thousand cases?

While protesters tell governor andy beshear?

They want to work.

Daviess and hopkins counties seeing some of the most cases in our area.

In illinois?

More than 2?

Thousand confirmed cases.

Southern illinois remains steady?

With gallatin county reporting their second this week.

As this pandemic spreads across the region?

You can trust 44news to bring you the latest developments in these trying times.

Erran huber has been tracking the confirmed cases across the tr?state since the coronavirus first hit.

He joins us live tonight from henderson with more.

Erran?

Hopkins county has passed a grim mileston?

Over 100 cases of covi?19.

But those numbers may not tell the whole story.

Open our stat* "there's a lot of folks here, probably a couple hundred that are protesting."

There's some noise in the background.

We do have some folks up here in kentucky today that believe we should reopen kentucky right now.

Folks, that would kill people.

It would absolutely kill people.

Tonigh?

Kentucky's governor isnt pulling any punches with his words.

Kentuckians are in harms way, and we are doing everything we can to help them.

Amid the frankfort commotio?

In western kentuck?

Cases hit new highs "101 cases.

We have more than 101 cases, people are sel?

Quarantining."

And the swelling official coun?comes amid a shocking new estimate.

"go back two weeks ago, and you're one of the 101 individuals that are positive.

Say it's 10 people it's over a thousand people that could potentially have the virus or are self quarantining."

Thousands who could otherwise be out and abou?and spreading covi?19 to even more kentuckians.

If the state were open.

Open our stat* "there's a lot of folks here, probably a couple hundred that are protesting."

There's some noise in the background.

We do have some folks up here in kentucky today that believe we should reopen kentucky right now.

Folks, that would kill people.

It would absolutely kill people.

Tonigh?

Kentucky's governor isnt pulling any punches with his words.

Kentuckians are in harms way, and we are doing everything we can to help them.

Amid the frankfort commotio?

In western kentuck?

Cases hit new highs "101 cases.

We have more than 101 cases, people are sel?

Quarantining."

And the swelling official coun?comes amid a shocking new estimate.

"go back two weeks ago, and you're one of the 101 individuals that are positive.

Say it's 10 people it's over a thousand people that could potentially have the virus or are self quarantining."

Thousands who could otherwise be out and abou?and spreading covi?19 to even more kentuckians.

If the state were open.

Protests tonight at beshear's press conference.

The governor insists he will not reopen the stat?to save lives.

Eh 44news tonight at nine?

People in daveez county are seeing a spike in cases?

And that's affecting residents at the ketcham memorial center.

Several residents tested positive for covi?19?

And they're now recovering.

A prayer service was held tonight to help those patients through these trying times.

Andrew garcia has the story.

Andrew?

Several patients at the ketcham memorial center have tested positive for covi?19, so the washington methodist free church organized a prayer gathering for those affected.

We had nothing to do with this so, the support that they wanted to give for residents and our staff, so we are very appreciative.

It is amazing and i want everyone to know that the residents are in their rooms and they are on this side, and they're all watching and they are so so excited and so happy to have this support.

And in accordance with social distancing tactics, those that attended made sure to stay in their cars so they could safely offer a kind word or say a prayer for those affected by the disease.

That is very important because that's what we have to do is social distance to beat this virus.

We have to stay home, we have to wash our hands we have to do everything that we possibly can to beat this.

And though they had no hand in organizing the service, workers at the memorial center greatly appreciate the gesture by those attending, as well as the other types of actions made by the community.

I do know that we've had meals being delivered, people are buying from the local restaurants and that type of thing.

I know that we're getting all kinds of snacks and support and letters and things that have been so overwhelming.

We're a small town and we are all loved here so, we love everyone else.

In odon, andrew garcia, 44 news.

Tonight at nine?

Some county health departments are clashing with state officials over a measure?

Signed by the state health commissioner.

Doctor box allowed lon?

Term care facilities to relocate their patients and residents?

But it's creating a real problem for area nursing homes.

Nursing home directors say they're recommending a new policy that keeps residents from moving to different facilities?

To help curb the spread.

So far we are doing pretty good because we are starting to see the leveling off of new patients showing positives and deaths.

We thought we were doing pretty good so why change it many families say they're concerned about their elderly family members becoming sick.

A few health officials are arguing that this is the best option?

Because it helps save protective gear?

Because all the sick patients will be isolated together.

Many families are adjusting to more time at home?

And that really means more time around their families.

It's incredibly stressful?

Especially while they're trying to balance work and home life.

It can be*very difficult?

Especially when children have special needs.

Jessica hartman sits down with one tr?state mom tonight and shares this report.

"it is a lot to be at home with your kids all the time, but i have loved just having the extra time."

As most parents will tell you?

Children grow up so fast.

Katie haire "i find that right around lunch time every day he has this burst of energy."

A moment katie haire and her husband joel?

Didn't get the chance to experience before the pandemic?

As full time working parents.

"he is funny.

If he doesn't like something or he thinks something is silly, he will make faces; scrunch his nose."

"for most people, that is normal for tw?yea?olds, but for us, we never had any guarantees that we were going to have that interaction with him."

Truett was born missing part of his brain?

Affecting his ability to communicate and slowing his physical development.

Making the possibility of a illness hard to catch early on?

Especially a virus that doesn't show symptoms until days even weeks after exposure.

"he can't communicate with me and then all of a sudden he is really sick.

So that piece of not being able to really know until it is almost too late, is what scares me the most."

It is why?

When katie knew she would be working from home they decided not to send truett to his daycare?

Milestones?

A part of easterseals that is still offering services for special needs families.

Fortunately?

The team of physical therapists and doctors that truett sees regularly?

Pivoted quickly providing telehealth services.

"i was really nervous, like 'oh shoot.

I am not trained in this.'

But out therapists have been awesome.

They walk us through each thing and we touch base and we make goals; the same way we always would.

But it is almost like them instructing me a little more."

The change to telehealth has also saved the family?

Several trips to specialists in indy?

Something katie says the doctors have already given a green like to continuing after the pandemic.

"truett sees 7 to 8 specialist and only one of them is in evansville."

"so it has been really great to basically save that time."

Time now spent?

Safe at home.

"i hope 20 years from now we look back and truett has memories of our time together or my husband and i have memories of the things we've done.

A positive outlook on a lif?changing moment in our lives?

Jessica hartman 44news.

The coronavirus pandemic is affecting every aspect of life at this point.

The 101st airborne division deployed soldiers from fort campbell, kentucky to new jersey yesterday?

To help with covi?19 relief efforts.

Joining me now is colonel stephanie barton from fort campbell kentucky.

Colonel can you give me a better idea of what these soldiers will be doing to provide help??

Is this a scary time for troops?

Or do you feel fully prepared that soldiers will be able to handle this pandemic?

Colonel?

There's been an outpouring of support for people to help during this pandemic.

Is there anything we can do to help?

Is there anything you need??

How has this affected your everyday life?

What kind of feeling is it to wake up every morning and go to sleep every night with covi?19 on your mind??

Do you believe more soldiers will be sent out to other areas across the region??

Colonel?

We appreciate your time and everything you're doing to help.

And please stay with 44news on air and online as we continue to watch this pandemic as a it grows across the region.

You can also follow us on social media?

Or download the 44news app to your smartphone or tablet.

We felt a comfortable day across the tr?state?

But what's in store for the rest of your work week?

Here's chief meteorologis t cameron hopman with your 44forecast.

Cam?

Tonight on fox 44news at nine that stimulus money*now flooding into bank accounts.

How americans are spending it and the best way to get through these trying times.

### plus?

How to track it if you're waiting for that check.

Plus?

Keeping a safe distance from people for months.

The latest study about social distancing?

And how long the coronavirus could be around.

Your covi?19 coverage