Global Breaking News - Monday, October 12, 2026

Tim Putnam operates a small hospital in rural Indiana. In March 2020, the 25-bed facility got hit very hard by COVID-19. “We had more cases per capita in our region than, I believe, anywhere,” said Putnam, head of Margaret Mary Health. “We were equal to New York City.” At the worst point of the pandemic, Putnam’s employees were caring for 40 patients. One of the hospital’s biggest struggles was trying to effectively treat a flood of long-term patients. Many local community members came forward to do what they could to help. Some donated or made face coverings for health care workers. A local dealer of recreational vehicles offered to provide free use of the vehicles for treating patients or as a place for workers to sleep.