INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — State Health Commissioner Dr. Kristina Box faced a room full of cameras Thursday and declared that if the coronavirus ever becomes an issue in Indiana, the state is ready.

Right out of the gate, Box said there are zero confirmed cases of coronavirus in Indiana. Right now, no one is suspected of having the virus or is being tested. However, the state is monitoring 26 people in Indiana because of their history of travel or contact with someone who has traveled to an infected country.

“I want to emphasize, that being monitored simply means that risk factors exist for possible exposure to COVID 19. It does not mean a person is ill or will become ill. None of the Hoosiers currently being monitored show any signs of coronavirus,” said Box.

Indiana State Department of Health‘s new scientific advisory panel of statewide healthcare providers met Thursday morning. State health officials have a response plan in action for how to respond if and when the coronavirus comes to Indiana.

“That pandemic guidance includes strategies for communication and other measures such as social distancing and other steps that can be taken if a large outbreak were to occur in Indiana,” said Box. “Because there is no vaccine and no treatment for COVID 19, these steps largely focus on staying home and mitigating the risk of community exposure.”

State health officials already conduct weekly webinars with local health departments across the state.

Dr. Box said they’ve already had meetings with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, meetings are also set with long-term care facilities.

What happens if someone in Indiana does test positive for the virus?

“If they test positive and they’re not ill or need to be in the hospital, they can self-isolate at home but follow up again with the local health department. There will be a longer period of time because they’ll need to test negative for 2 days in a row with regard to the coronavirus,” said Box.

Though the virus is not in Indiana, the monitoring continues.

“I am confident that Indiana is ready if and when this outbreak reaches our state,” said Box.

If you think you might be showing signs or symptoms of the coronavirus, call the state health department at (317) 233-7125.