Meeting platforms grow even as COVID wanes
Online gatherings are here to stay, but after two years of Zooming, people are looking for something more than the standard videoconferencing sites can offer.
UPDATE: Holcomb signs bill to end health emergency, limit vaccine mandates
Gov. Eric Holcomb signed a new order Thursday, effectively ending the health emergency. It had been renewed on a monthly basis for nearly two years.
As vaccine demand falls, states left with huge stockpiles
As demand for COVID-19 vaccines collapses in many areas of the United States, states are scrambling to use stockpiles of doses before they expire and have to be added to the millions that have already gone to waste.
Biden seeks $10B for aid to Ukraine, $22.5B for coronavirus
The Biden administration is seeking more funds to help protect Ukraine against the Russian invasion and to cover coronavirus pandemic-related expenses, two major additions to budget talks already underway.
White House unveils new COVID plan, says shutdowns, school closures unnecessary
The 96-page road map is part of a broader White House strategy to move the country from crisis footing and convince Americans that their lives can return to normal amid the president’s tanking approval ratings.
Indiana Southern District Court lifts mask, social distancing mandates
Visitors of the federal courthouses in the Southern District of Indiana won’t be required to wear face coverings or socially distance while entering and occupying public spaces beginning next week.
Pfizer nearing big gains in COVID treatment production
Pfizer’s new COVID-19 treatment came with a catch when it debuted late last year: Supplies were limited, and it would take months to make the tablets.
Indiana’s COVID-19 death toll climbs past 22,000
Meanwhile, statewide hospitalizations due to COVID fell to 751 as of Tuesday, the lowest number since July 25.
Watered-down vaccine mandate limits clear Senate, return to House for consideration
The Indiana Senate passed a watered-down version of the House Republicans’ bill to limit employer vaccine mandates, sending it back to the House where its future is cloudy.
More than 140M Americans have had COVID-19, according to CDC
The estimates, compiled by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, show that about 43% of the country has been infected by the virus. Indiana is among 14 states where more than half the population has been infected.
Statewide COVID-19 hospitalizations fall to lowest mark since July
COVID-19 hospitalizations have plummeted 77% in Indiana since hitting a pandemic high of 3,519 on Jan. 13.
Remote work seen more persistent than planners expected
The analysis found that work-from-home situations rose for every major demographic group and industry, but was especially sharp among highly educated workers.
Nearly half of 500M free COVID tests for public still unclaimed
On the first day of the White House test giveaway in January, COVIDtests.gov received over 45 million orders. Now officials say fewer than 100,000 orders a day are coming in.
Some Americans welcome new CDC mask guidance, but others wary
Many Americans, including parents of school children, have been clamoring for an end to masking while others wonder if the pandemic could throw a new curveball.
CDC to significantly ease pandemic mask guidelines
The new policy comes as the Biden administration moves to shift its focus to preventing serious illness and death from COVID-19, rather than all instances of infection, as part of a strategy adjustment for a new “phase” in the response as the virus becomes endemic.
Statewide COVID hospitalizations hit lowest mark since early August
The Indiana State Department of Health reported 63 more deaths from COVID-19, raising the state pandemic total to 21,818.
COVID-19 shots unlikely to prompt rare inflammation in children
First reported in the United Kingdom in early 2020, the condition is sometimes mistaken for Kawasaki disease, which can cause swelling and heart problems. Since February 2020, more than 6,800 cases have been reported in the U.S., according to the CDC.
Navy team leaves Methodist Hospital as COVID-19 cases fall
A U.S. Navy team that was dispatched to Methodist Hospital in Indianapolis to help relieve overwhelmed staffers during a surge in COVID-19 cases has wrapped up its deployment after 60 days.
U.S. virus cases, hospitalizations continue steady decline
In Indiana, hospitalizations for COVID-19 fell to 1,093 on Sunday, down 69% from a pandemic high of 3,519 on Jan. 13.
IU making masks optional on all campuses starting March 4
Indiana University will no longer require masks in classrooms, residence halls, dining spaces, common areas or at athletics venues starting March 4
Resources
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention CDC Resources for Businesses and Employers OSHA Guidance on Preparing Workplaces for COVID-19 Indiana State Department of Health Indy Chamber Rapid Response Hub Small Business Administration The SBA is making low-interest loans for working capital available to Indiana small businesses. Indiana Unemployment Information Johns Hopkins Coronavirus Dashboard Critical Industries Hotline(for business and industry only)
877-820-0890
covidresponse@iedc.in.gov State’s virus-related executive orders State plan to reopen Indiana