Indiana reports 118 more COVID-19 deaths
The state’s total death toll is nearing 18,000, with a recent average of 36 deaths per day. Hospitalizations have remained relatively steady—around 3,000 patients—over the last week.
NHL shuts down Wednesday through Saturday, postponing five games
The National Hockey league is temporarily shutting down amid a rise in positive COVID-19 tests among players, and with 10 of the league’s 32 teams’ schedules already paused and their facilities closed.
Omicron casts new shadow over economy’s pandemic recovery
A heightened sense of anxiety has begun to erode the willingness of some people and some businesses to carry on as usual in the face of the extraordinarily contagious omicron variant.
U.S. Navy sending team to Methodist Hospital to help with rising COVID-19 cases
Medical personnel from the Navy team will include physicians, nurses and respiratory therapists. The move comes at the request of the Federal Emergency Management Agency as Indiana hospitals warn they’re reaching capacity.
Biden will try to rally exhausted Americans against omicron threat
In a speech Tuesday, Biden will outline plans to expand coronavirus testing sites across the country, distribute a half-billion free at-home tests and deploy more federal health resources to aid strained hospitals, including emergency teams bound for Indiana.
NFL’s COVID-testing plan could fuel spread, experts say, but it’s ‘where society is going’
After dozens of players tested positive last week, throwing the league’s schedule into chaos, the NFL overhauled its testing strategy, saying it will no longer conduct regular testing of vaccinated players who show no signs of illness.
Indiana hospitals make plea to Hoosiers: ‘The situation is dire’
Three large hospital systems are asking Hoosiers in a multipronged media campaign to get fully vaccinated and wear masks. It’s the latest signal that hospitals are facing a tipping point in the pandemic.
Moderna booster should provide ‘good level of protection’ against omicron, vaccine-maker says
A booster dose of Moderna’s vaccine—half the dose used in the original shots for adults—increased antibody levels against omicron by 37 times, the company said, citing preliminary data.
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IBJ Podcast: Kids, COVID and Christmas … what’s safe?
Host Mason King talks with Dr. James Wood, a pediatric infectious disease specialist at Riley Children’s Health, to talk about vaccinations for children, how latest strains of coronavirus are affecting younger kids and whether it’s safe for grandkids to gather with their grandparents at the holidays.
Lawmakers, business leaders begin to raise alarms about dwindling federal aid, as omicron cases rise across U.S.
Over nearly two years, Congress has committed nearly $6 trillion toward combating the virus and boosting the economy, but some of the most significant programs to keep businesses afloat and help households pay bills have expired or run out of funds.
NBA postpones 5 more games; Young, Vogel enter protocols
Leaguewide, through Sunday afternoon, there were at least 68 players who have either been ruled out to play — or in the case of the postponed games, would have been ruled out — because they are in the protocols.
Indiana identifies first case of omicron variant of COVID-19
Although confirmation of the high contagious strain was confirmed this weekend, the specimen was collected 10 days ago.
Omicron may sideline Lilly, Regeneron antibody drugs against COVID-19
The companies say they can quickly develop new omicron-targeting antibodies, but those aren’t expected to launch for at least several months.
Poll backs lawmakers’ moves to restrict employer vaccine mandates
The survey of 576 adult Hoosiers by the Bowen Center for Public Affairs at Ball State University shows that while 30% support employer vaccine mandates, 40% want employers only to encourage vaccines. Another 28% don’t want employers to encourage or require the shots.
Explainer: Must employers follow Biden’s vaccine mandates?
Tens of millions of workers across the U.S. are in limbo as federal courts have put President Joe Biden’s COVID-19 vaccine mandates affecting private companies largely on hold. Here’s where everything stands.
CDC recommends Pfizer, Moderna COVID-19 shots over J&J’s
The strange clotting problem has caused nine confirmed deaths after J&J vaccinations—while the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines don’t come with that risk and also appear more effective, said advisers to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Indiana reports 55 more deaths from COVID-19, rise in cases
COVID-19 patients now occupy 35.4% of Indiana’s intensive care unit beds.
State reports 87 more COVID deaths, another rise in hospitalizations
Indiana University Health, the state’s largest hospital system, said Wednesday that the Indiana National Guard was supporting 13 of its 16 hospitals statewide with six-person teams.
NBA, players’ union considering return to daily testing
There were 33 players known to be in the league’s health and safety protocols as of Wednesday evening, along with two head coaches—Indiana’s Rick Carlisle and Sacramento interim coach Alvin Gentry—and a number of other staffers.
New guidelines, Booster Day looming as COVID disrupts NBA
Players and coaches (including Pacers head coach Rick Carlisle) are again missing games due to protocols, underscoring what NBA officials have been saying for weeks: The pandemic is still very much a problem.
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