Covid history in Indiana

<p dir="ltr">The <strong><a href= "https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html">Covid-19</a></strong> pandemic obviously will be the focus of work by future historians. But enough history has unfolded already for <strong>Hoosier History Live</strong> to explore the beginnings of the health crisis in Indiana, including the first diagnosed case and the first death in the state.</p> <p dir="ltr">During this show, we also will compare the spread in urban and rural areas, describe early challenges in contact tracing and explore other aspects of the emerging epidemic. Nelson will be joined by a journalist who has covered the impact of Covid-19 in Indiana since it entered public awareness.</p> <p dir="ltr"><strong><a href= "https://www.indystar.com/staff/2684151001/shari-rudavsky/">Shari Rudavsky</a></strong>, the health and medical reporter for the <strong><em><a href= "https://www.indystar.com/">Indianapolis Star</a></em></strong>, wrote a front-page story last month that described the earliest Hoosier cases of Covid-19 that "provided a harbinger of dark days." Shari, who has a PhD in the history and sociology of science, wrote about the state's first case, which was diagnosed in early March 2020. A patient at<strong> Community Hospital North </strong>in <strong>Indianapolis</strong>, the man (whose name has never been released) "was well enough to ride out his illness in a hotel quarantined from his family," Shari reported.</p> <p dir="ltr"><strong><a href= "https://www.indystar.com/staff/2684151001/shari-rudavsky/"><img src="http://hoosierhistorylive.org/images/Roberta-Shelton-Covid-fatality.JPG" alt= "Roberta "Birdie" Shelton died of Covid-19 in March of 2020, the first person in Indiana lost to the disease. " width="255" height="340" align="left" /></a></strong>Much less fortunate a few weeks later was <strong><a href= "https://www.indystar.com/story/news/health/2021/03/15/covid-19-cases-indiana-saw-first-coronavirus-related-death-year-ago/4666949001/">Roberta Shelton</a></strong>, 69, a beloved employee