Recent updates, cancellations and changes concerning the COVID-19 pandemic include:

• Inter-County Energy announced Tuesday it would be suspending residential disconnects and new late fees “to assist residential members who may be facing financial difficulties in the near-term due to impacts from COVID-19.”

Additionally, Inter-County’s Danville and Lebanon office lobbies closed to the public on Tuesday. Drive-thrus will remain open for business.

“This is an effort to protect our members as well as maintain a healthy workforce. We understand how important it is that we can continue to provide service to our members’ and this is one step we are making to do that,” says Jerry Carter, President & CEO of Inter-County Energy. 

Members will be able to pay bills through the drive-thru, mobile app, the website, by phone, by mail, automatic bank draft or the night deposit. Anyone with questions regarding any of these options including membership applications can call the office at (888) 266-7322.

• Kentucky Utilities has announced its policy of suspending disconnects and waiving new late fees has been expanded to include all business customers until at least May 1. The move by the utilities further applies assistance efforts that began Monday, as it was announced LG&E, KU and ODP are temporarily suspending disconnects and waiving late fees for residential customers who may have difficulty paying their bill during this time.
• The Boyle County Chamber of Commerce Business After Hours event for March 19 has been cancelled.
• The Agency for Substance Abuse Policy’s March 27 meeting has been cancelled.
• AA/NA meetings: Some meetings are being cancelled. Call to check if meetings are being held: AA —(800) 467-8019, or call ASAP member Rat Durham at (606) 346-5664; NA – (859) 253-4753. Online meetings are available at any time at www.Rooms.com. This is an excellent resource during this time of many cancellations and social distancing.
• The Syringe Exchange Program remains open at the Boyle County Health Department during their regular health department clinic hours.
• New Hope Food Pantry remains open during their regular hours at this time: Monday, Tuesday and Thursday, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., and Friday 4-6 p.m.. They expect to be busy and would be thankful to accept donations from any church or organization to meet anticipated increased needs.
• Alternative Meal Service for children under 18 sites and schedule can be obtained by emailing Sueticia Vanarsdall at the Salvation Army at Sueticia.Vanarsdall@uss.salvationarmy.org.
• The Bunny Davis recreation center run by Danville-Boyle Parks and Recreation closed Tuesday and will remain closed until at least April 1. The facility will be cleaned and sanitized during the closure. Registration for baseball, softball and T-ball is still available at www.danvilleboylecoparks.com.
• Dollar General announced that beginning Wednesday, March 18, the company wants the first hour of operation at its stores to be reserved for senior citizens, “who are one of the groups most vulnerable to the COVID-19 coronavirus.”

“Other customers are encouraged to plan their shopping trips around this window of time to allow the most susceptible customers in our communities the ability to shop during the first hour that stores are open,” according to a news release from the company. “… Additionally, all stores plan to close one hour earlier than current close times to allow employees to clean and restock store shelves, as well as for their health and wellbeing.”

• Ephraim McDowell Regional Medical Center has opened a call center, effective Wednesday, March 18, to help ease concerns of the community and the burden of calls being made to primary care clinics for people who are experiencing flu-like symptoms. The number is (859) 936-8350 if you are experiencing flu-like symptoms or if you have a fever, sore throat or breathing difficulties. A nurse answering the call will assess your symptoms and advise you of the steps you should follow.

For those with further questions about this illness, call the COVID-19 Hotline at (800) 722-5725, or visit the Centers for Disease Control website at cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov.

• Ephraim McDowell Health has restricted visitors at Ephraim McDowell Regional Medical Center, Ephraim McDowell Fort Logan Hospital and Ephraim McDowell James B. Haggin Hospital to one per patient. Visitors 80 years old and above, and those 12 and younger are restricted from visiting patients at all of our hospitals. Overnight visits are currently not allowed, except for births, passing patients, patient sitters and those who are power of attorney or health care surrogates for a patient. Anyone wanting to visit a patient, but does not feel well is asked to delay their visit until they are well. Anyone entering our three hospitals will be screened and their temperature will be taken. Visitors who have a fever will not be allowed to enter.
• Ephraim McDowell Commonwealth Cancer Center is allowing only patients inside the building. Visitors or those who have driven the patient are asked to remain in their vehicles.
• McDowell Place of Danville is only allowing those involved in the direct care or end of life care of the residents will be permitted to enter the building. Staff and individuals who are permitted to enter will continue to be screened at the front desk. Per CDC recommendations, to avoid potential exposure, we ask that all residents remain in the building. All non-essential transportation for residents will be suspended.
• Ephraim McDowell Health’s primary care clinics, specialty clinics, rehabilitation clinics, diagnostic clinics and the Women’s Breast & Health Center are allowing only one visitor per patient inside the facility at a time.
• The Third Street entrance to Ephraim McDowell Regional Medical Center will be closed effective 9 p.m. on March 17 and it will remain closed until further notice. The South Wing entrance will be open Monday through Friday from 5:30 a.m. until 9 p.m., and the Emergency Room entrance will be open 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
• The main entrance to James B. Haggin Hospital in Harrodsburg will be closed effective 8:30 p.m. on March 17 and will remain closed until further notice. The Emergency Room entrance will be open 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
• All elective surgeries at Ephraim McDowell Health hospitals and the Central Kentucky Surgery Center have been postponed until further notice.
• West T. Hill Community Theatre has canceled its second weekend’s performance of “Death of a Salesman.” WTH is also postponing auditions for “The Savannah Sipping Society.”

Karen Logue, managing director, said decisions will be made regarding the next few productions, including “Singing in the Rain” and Shamrock IV camps, “with due diligence. We hope to light up our stage as soon as it is safe and sensible.”