The bill, approved late Monday by the U.S. House and Senate, will deliver long-sought cash to businesses and individuals and resources to vaccinate a nation confronting a frightening surge in COVID-19 cases and deaths.
Last week, state health officials said they expected to initially receive 55,575 doses of Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine, and had already begun vaccinating front-line health care workers. But just five days later, state officials and hospitals are keeping mum about how many doses they actually received, except to say it was fewer than expected.
However, the Indiana State Department of Health on Monday reported 31 more deaths due to COVID-19, the 21st straight time that deaths have exceeded 25 in the daily report.
The $600 stimulus checks are part of the pending legislation, which includes $300 in weekly unemployment benefits for 11 weeks, aid for small businesses, money for vaccine distribution, and a range of other measures.
British officials have reported that a mutation of the virus appears to speed its transmission, and they have imposed restrictions on 18 million people in London and across southern England.
The recommendation came as a second vaccine began rolling out to hospitals as the nation works to get the coronavirus pandemic under control.
The tax break for corporate meal expenses has been denounced by congressional Democrats, but they agreed to the provision in exchange for expanded tax credits for low-income families and the working poor.
The deal includes stimulus checks and would extend unemployment benefits of up to $300 per week, which could start as early as Dec. 27.
Less than 20% of the monoclonal antibody doses shipped by two companies, Indianapolis-based Lilly and New York-based Regeneron, have have used, officials say, even though they can reduce hospitalizations by up to 70%.
Indiana has reported an increase of 1,472 deaths from COVID-19 since the beginning of the month, just two fewer than the increase of deaths reported in all of November.
In Indiana, the health department recently said it would no longer ask for a detailed list of symptoms and would encourage people to call their own contacts.
The breakthrough came after two days of scrambling that sent tremors across Capitol Hill, as lawmakers realized that a deal badly desired by both sides could fall through at the last minute.
The state on Saturday reported 73 more deaths due to COVID-19, the 10th time deaths have exceeded 70 in the past 12 daily reports.
Much-needed doses are set to arrive Monday after the Food and Drug Administration authorized an emergency rollout of the vaccine developed by Moderna Inc. and the National Institutes of Health.
Red tape, staff shortages, testing delays and strong skepticism are keeping many patients and doctors from the drugs made by Eli Lilly and Co. and Regeneron Pharmaceuticals.
The Food and Drug Administration was evaluating a shot developed by Moderna Inc. and the National Institutes of Health and was expected to give it the green light soon, clearing the way for its use to begin as early as Monday.
Sen. John Thune, R-S.D., the No. 2 Senate Republican, told reporters Friday afternoon that expectations of a deal by the end of the day reflected “a triumph of hope over experience.”
As the coronavirus sidelines huge numbers of educators, school districts are turning to college students, who are learning online or home for extended winter breaks.
Hendricks Commercial Properties has begun preliminary discussions on phase two, but hasn’t decided whether to stick with its original plan that emphasized office space.
Several state lawmakers have been drafting coronavirus immunity legislation over the past several months as efforts in Congress to pass federal legislation have stalled.
