Dubois County Health Officials Urge Residents Not to Travel Unless You Must

FROM LOCAL SOURCES

JASPER -- The Dubois County Health Department is urging residents to stay at home for 14 days and watch for symptoms if they’re just returning from traveling to another country.

In a statement released Thursday, local health officials say you should not travel unless it’s critical.  You’re especially urged to stay away from Indianapolis, which is seeing a surge in COVID-19 cases.

Other big cities are expecting a similar surge including New Orleans, Chicago, Detroit, L.A. and Miami.

See the full release from local health experts below....

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 
April 2, 2020 

TRAVEL INFORMATION

The Dubois County Health Department has received calls and inquiries about traveling throughout Indiana, the United States and internationally.

Travelers returning from other countries will need to stay at home for 14 days and monitor for symptoms.  Many states have implemented executive orders from their governor to “stay at home”. United States has positive cases of COVID-19 in all 50 states.  

The US Surgeon General Dr. Jerome Adams has listed Indianapolis among one of six new COVID-19 hotspots.  This is due to significantly growing cases, and hospitals are gearing up for an influx of COVID-19 patients.  Indianapolis is listed among New Orleans, Chicago, Detroit, Los Angeles, and Miami.

Dubois County Health Department urges all residents to not travel unless critical, especially to Indianapolis.  

The Center for Disease Control (CDC) does give several considerations before travel, to help you make a better-informed decision:

- Is the virus spreading in the area where you plan to go?  Check the local health department/ state department websites. 

- What happens if during your travel you encounter someone with COVID-19 and must stay at home to self-monitor for an extended amount of time?  Or, if you become ill yourself? 

- Also remember an individual may show minor symptoms but still spread the virus to those high-risk individuals.