GOP rallies solidly against Democrats’ $1.9T virus relief package
The hardening opposition suggested that President Joe Biden’s first major legislative initiative could encounter unanimous GOP opposition.
NCAA tournament tests won’t be included in state’s public dashboard
The Indiana Department of Health told IBJ that the state’s COVID-19 testing data, which has been updated daily since the pandemic began almost a year ago, is limited to information on Indiana residents.
Holcomb extends county-by-county restrictions amid improving COVID-19 conditions
Indiana Gov. Eric Holcomb’s executive order outlining pandemic-related capacity restrictions based on a county-by-county system will continue through March, as will the public health emergency.
Lowe’s 4Q results surge as people plow money into homes
Home improvement stores have become hot destinations during the pandemic, with millions working from home and attending school remotely. Many Americans have found the time to update or change their homes to add home offices and other elements.
Frustrated teachers lose access to vaccine waitlists as Indiana enforces eligibility rules
Teachers say they are being removed from or moved down on standby lists at Walmart stores. The state says standby lists are to follow eligibility guidelines, and doses are not being wasted.
FDA says single-dose shot from J&J prevents severe COVID
The long-anticipated shot could offer the nation a third vaccine option and help speed vaccinations by requiring just one dose instead of two.
Indiana reports 1,019 new COVID-19 cases, 14 more deaths
The state said more than 482,000 Hoosiers had been fully vaccinated against COVID-19 as of Wednesday at 5 a.m. More than 920,000 had received the first dose of a vaccination.
Senate OKs bill to limit governor’s emergency orders to 60 days
Republican legislative leaders have generally praised Gov. Erric Holcomb’s handling of the pandemic, but they also say lawmakers should be able to provide input in the decisions when an emergency continues for an extended period of time.
New or used? Either way, price hikes squeeze U.S. auto buyers
The price of an average new vehicle jumped 6% between January and December 2020, to a record $40,578, according to data from Edmunds.com. Yet, that increase was nothing next to what happened in the used market.
Fed’s Powell: Recovery incomplete, high inflation unlikely
Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell’s comments were in contrast to the increasing optimism among many analysts that the economy will grow rapidly later this year. That outlook has also raised concerns, though, about a potential surge in inflation.
Drug executives: Big jump in vaccine supply coming soon
By the end of March, Pfizer and Moderna expect to have provided the U.S. government with a total of 220 million vaccine doses, up from the roughly 75 million shipped so far.
Indiana COVID-19 deaths climb past 12,000 mark
The state said more than 459,000 Hoosiers had been fully vaccinated against COVID-19 as of Tuesday. More than 905,000 had received the first dose of a vaccination.
Tex-Mex restaurant from owners of Tried and True Alehouse opening in Greenwood
Humble Taco and Margarita Bar is set to open Monday in a 4,300-square-foot spot that formerly housed a Stacked Pickle restaurant.
Hoosiers 60-64 now eligible for COVID-19 vaccines
The expansion means an additional 432,000 people are eligible for vaccines. The eligibility pool previously consisted of Hoosiers aged 65 and older, front-line health care workers and first responders.
COVID-19 deaths surpass 500,000 in United States
The COVID-19 death toll in the United States has reached a staggering number that all but matches the number of Americans killed in World War II, Korea and Vietnam combined.
Schools must still give standardized tests this year, Biden administration says
The decision means that schools will have to find ways to safely administer tests to tens of millions of students, many of whom are still learning remotely.
Johnson & Johnson says it can provide 20M vaccine doses by end of March
The company reiterated that it will have capacity to provide 100 million vaccine doses to the U.S. by the end of June. That supply will help government officials reach the goal of having enough injections to vaccinate most adult Americans later this year.
Biden boosts pandemic lending to smallest businesses
Under the Paycheck Protection Program, the administration is establishing a two-week window, starting Wednesday, in which only businesses with fewer than 20 employees—the overwhelming majority of small businesses—can apply for the forgivable loans.
Indiana COVID-19 daily report shows 824 cases, 35 deaths
Statewide hospitalizations due to COVID-19 rose slightly, from 870 on Saturday to 878 on Sunday. The high mark was 3,460, set on Nov. 30.
City-County Council to consider proposal to limit food-delivery fees
The proposed ordinance, co-authored by councilors Keith Potts and John Barth, would impose several restrictions on third-party delivery services such as UberEats, GrubHub and DoorDash.
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