‘Relieved’: U.S. health workers start getting COVID-19 vaccine
The biggest vaccination campaign in U.S. history kicked off Monday as health workers rolled up their sleeves for shots to protect them from COVID-19 and start beating back the pandemic.
Lilly Endowment grant to fund expansion of community e-learning sites
Currently, there are 26 community learning site locations across the city with the capacity to serve more than 880 students. The $500,000 grant could help up to 400 more.
Simon Property reversing pandemic-related executive pay cuts
Indianapolis-based shopping mall giant Simon Property Group will reinstate the pay of executives and board members who had been working under pandemic-related pay cuts since spring, the company announced Monday.
Vaccines roll out as officials share months-long timeline for immunization effort
Federal officials hope to have given both of the required vaccine doses to 100 million people by the end of March. It could take two to three more months to immunize enough people to prompt herd immunity.
Indiana plant ramps up work on coolers for COVID-19 vaccines
Arizona-based Foam Fabricators has increased staffing by 20% at its New Albany plant to keep up with demand for the coolers that will be used for the vaccines developed by Pfizer and Moderna.
New COVID-19 cases in Indiana again exceed 6,000
The state on Sunday also reported 37 new deaths due to COVID-19, raising the cumulative total to 6,495.
FDA tries to reassure public on safety of COVID-19 vaccine
FDA Commissioner Stephen Hahn denied Saturday that the White House had threatened his job if the agency didn’t move quickly on the vaccine.
COVID-19 concerns prompt Indianapolis library restrictions
Starting on Dec. 21, the Indianapolis Public Library’s branches will restrict in-person services to curbside pickup and limited computer use. Browsing for books won’t be permitted.
States will start getting COVID-19 vaccine Monday
The state of Indiana is set to receive more than 55,000 doses of the COVID-19 vaccine for health care workers next week, with the initial doses going to five pilot hospitals. By the end of next week, additional doses are expected at a total of 50 hospitals throughout the state.
Indiana reports 7,542 new COVID-19 cases, 85 more deaths
The department said it tested 20,022 new individuals, the 46th straight day that testing in that category has exceeded 10,000.
FDA authorizes first COVID-19 vaccine in bid to end surging pandemic
The U.S. gave the final go-ahead Friday to the nation’s first COVID-19 vaccine, marking what could be the beginning of the end of an outbreak that has killed nearly 300,000 Americans.
White House threatens FDA chief’s job over vaccine approval
Food and Drug Administration chief Stephen Hahn signaled that he would tell regulators to allow the vaccine to be issued on an emergency basis, White House chief of staff Mark Meadows said.
Study: Drug combo with Lilly medication boosts COVID recovery time
Doctors are reporting that a two-drug treatment involving a medication from Indianapolis-based Eli Lilly and Co. is especially helpful for COVID-19 patients who need extra oxygen.
Colts capacity reduced to 10,000 for next home game
It’s unknown whether the health department will institute the same restriction for the Big Ten Football Championship game, scheduled to take place the day before the Colts game.
Congress averts shutdown, buys time for more COVID-19 talks
COVID-19 relief talks remain stalled but there is universal agreement that Congress won’t adjourn for the year without passing a long-delayed round of pandemic relief.
Hospitals discharge patients early to free beds during pandemic
Hospitals are discharging patients several days earlier than they otherwise would, sending them home sometimes with oxygen machines, intravenous lines and powerful medicines.
Indiana reports 7,360 new COVID-19 cases, 71 more deaths
New cases have exceeded 5,000 in 29 of the past 31 daily reports.
Indiana files civil suit in alleged mask-selling scheme
The suit alleges an individual and a corporation conspired to obtain hundreds of millions of dollars from the state by offering to sell it millions of N95 respirator masks made by 3M even though they had no ties to the manufacturer or an ability to obtain the masks.
In Wall Street years, 2020 felt like a decade for markets
The stock market tumbled through years’ worth of losses in just over a month this spring, only to turn around and pack an entire bull market’s worth of gains into less than nine months.
Retailers urge shoppers to buy early amid shipping crunch
The earlier-than-usual deadlines come as more people turn to online shopping during the pandemic, creating a logjam for shipping companies as well as delivery delays. The U.S. Post Office admits that processing plants are “overwhelmed.”
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