Oxygen supplies grow precarious amid COVID surge
Deaths are on the rise, averaging more than 1,300 a day, in what health officials predicted would happen as result of the massive rise in cases and hospitalizations over the last month.
Indiana schools get incentive to require classroom masks
Gov. Eric Holcomb issued a new statewide executive order that eases quarantine requirements for students if all children and adults in the school were wearing masks throughout the day.
State reports 4,822 new COVID-19 cases, 29 more deaths
Statewide hospitalizations due to COVID-19 dipped slightly, from 2,300 on Monday to 2,294 on Tuesday. More than 28% of Indiana’s intensive care unit beds are occupied by COVID patients.
Delta variant poised to steal Christmas with empty shelves, long waits, higher prices
Analysts say they expect supply-chain issues to cause widespread shortages, less selection and higher prices for a number of popular holiday gifts, including gaming consoles, TVs, toys and sneakers.
Reich urges vaccinations in wake of Colts’ COVID-19 absences
With four projected starters on the reserve/COVID-19 list, one of the NFL’s least-vaccinated teams is facing new scrutiny
Indiana COVID-19 death toll surges past 14,000
Tuesday’s health department report contained the highest number of new deaths from COVID since Feb. 12. Meanwhile, hospitalizations due to COVID-19 continued to climb statewide.
Compliance mixed for Indiana University’s vaccine mandate
The highest student vaccination rates are at the largest IU campuses in Bloomington and Indianapolis. But rates were much lower at the five other principal regional campuses.
QB Wentz to sit out as Colts add three starters to COVID-19 list
COVID-19 has been a concern for the Colts, who have consistently ranked near the bottom of the league in vaccination rates.
Record numbers of COVID-19 cases reported in Indiana schools
More than 5,500 new cases were reported among Indiana students in Monday’s weekly update of the state’s coronavirus school dashboard.
Indiana health commissioner defends maskless wedding photo
Dr. Kristina Box said in a statement that she “made an informed decision” to take off her mask while dancing or talking at a recent family wedding with guests fully vaccinated against COVID-19. Several social media comments called Box’s actions hypocritical.
Roche Diagnostics says all U.S. employees must be vaccinated by Nov. 15
Roche Diagnostics is requiring COVID-19 vaccinations for all 8,000 people in its U.S. workforce, including about 4,500 in Indianapolis. Employees will have until Nov. 15 to get fully vaccinated, or will be terminated, the company said in a statement.
Virus variant batters airline bookings for Labor Day weekend
After a surge in bookings early this summer, U.S. airline passengers are planning fewer trips as the spread of the coronavirus delta variant continues to discourage travel.
COVID-19 hospitalizations reach highest mark in Indiana since Jan. 20
The state reported 2,916 new COVID cases, raising the cumulative total to 855,031. The cumulative number increased by 11,331 cases over Friday’s report.
Newfields tightens mask policy as COVID cases skyrocket
The arts-and-nature campus at 4000 Michigan Road appears to be the first major cultural attraction in the city to require masks indoors for all staff and guests since the most recent surge in COVID-19 cases began.
Former Colts player, Stacked Pickle owner Gary Brackett files for bankruptcy
Brackett, who played for the Indianapolis Colts from 2003 to 2011, got into the restaurant business after retiring from the NFL. He closed his Stacked Pickle sports-bar chain in May 2020 because of the pandemic.
Indiana health officials: ‘Things are going to get much worse’
Indiana State Health Commissioner Dr. Kris Box pointed out that the vast majority of people showing up at hospitals needing treatment for COVID-19 are unvaccinated.
Lack of caregivers puts stress on parents, providers
Child care centers across the state are scrambling to find enough workers to meet demand and parents are struggling to find a child care provider with a vacancy.
Concert, event organizers tighten entry rules as COVID cases increase
Local arts organizations and event promoters are using strategies such as vaccination requirements, mask mandates and capacity restrictions to help preserve their ability to hold in-person events.
State reports rise in hospitalizations, deaths from COVID-19
The state reported another 21 deaths from COVID-19, raising the cumulative death toll to 13,936.
More companies weighing penalties for unvaccinated workers
Employers are increasingly moving from luring workers to get their shots to using threats, workplace experts say, frustrated by vaccine holdouts and emboldened by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s full approval of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine this week.
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