Mayor: 'Wabash is at a critical stage in this pandemic'

On Tuesday, Mayor Scott Long said due to the increase “locally and within city departments of COVID-19 cases and quarantine protocols due to exposure,” Wabash City and the associated departments will be closed until Monday, Nov. 30.

“Personnel within City Hall will be working remotely from home and office phones will be forwarded to personal home and cell phone numbers so that business can still be accomplished,” said Long. “Selected employees will be coming to City Hall periodically to check mail and complete other required tasks.”

Long said building department inspections will still go on as scheduled.

The November City Council and Board of Works meetings will be held remotely.

“Wabash is at a critical stage in this pandemic and we are taking steps to ensure the safety of our employees and public at large,” said Long.

Long-term care facilities

The ISDH updated its long-term care facilities dashboard with results as of Wednesday, Nov. 4 and were updated Wednesday, Nov. 11. The dashboard is updated weekly at noon Wednesdays. New positive cases and deaths have occurred over a range of dates but were reported to the ISDH seven days before the last dashboard update.

During the latest update, in Wabash County:

Timbercrest Senior Living Community in North Manchester reported fewer than five each total resident positive cases, total resident deaths and staff positive cases.

Peabody Retirement Community in North Manchester reported 25 new resident positive cases, five new resident deaths, 35 total resident positive cases and 89 staff positive cases.

Rolling Meadows Health Care Center reported a total of 45 resident positive cases, 10 total resident deaths and 11 staff positive cases.

Miller’s Merry Manor – Wabash East reported a total of fewer than five new resident positive cases, fewer than five total resident cases and six staff positive cases.

Miller’s Merry Manor – Wabash West reported a total of fewer than five each total resident positive cases and staff positive cases.

Wellbrooke of Wabash reported fewer than five staff positive cases.

Autumn Ridge Rehabilitation Centre reported fewer than five each total resident positive cases and staff positive cases.

School figures

The ISDH’s latest school dashboard results are as of 11:59 p.m. Friday, Nov. 6 and were updated Monday, Nov. 9. The dashboard is updated weekly at midnight Mondays.

Statewide, 353 schools reported no cases, 1,589 reported one or more case and 424 have not reported.

During the latest update, Wabash County schools with one or more confirmed cases included:

Manchester Jr./Sr. High School (MHS) reported 11 total student positive cases and fewer than five total staff positive cases.

Manchester Elementary School (MES) reported fewer than five each total student positive cases and total staff positive cases.

Manchester Intermediate Schools (MIS) reported fewer than five total student positive cases.

Metro North Elementary School reported fewer than five total student positive cases.

Sharp Creek Elementary School reported fewer than five total staff positive cases.

Northfield Jr./Sr. High School (NHS) reported nine total student positive cases and fewer than five total staff cases.

Southwood Jr./Sr. High School (SHS) reported fewer than five each new student positive cases and total student positive cases.

Wabash High School (WHS) reported fewer than five each total student positive cases and total teacher positive cases.

O.J. Neighbours Elementary School reported fewer than five total teacher positive cases.

On the Manchester Community Schools’ (MCS) own dashboard the information is updated once contact tracing is complete and all close contacts have been notified. MCS defines close contact is when an individual is within 6 feet for more than 15 minutes of someone with confirmed COVID-19.

“The Wabash County Health Department determined close contacts in conjunction with school personnel and advised us who to quarantine,” stated MCS.