Statewide COVID-19 cases reach all-time high
The Indiana State Department of Health released the latest statistics for breakthrough cases, hospitalizations and deaths on Thursday.
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COVID-19 pill rollout stymied by shortages as omicron rages
Two brand-new COVID-19 pills that were supposed to be an important weapon against the pandemic in the United States are in short supply and have played little role in the fight against the omicron wave of infections.
U.S. to double free COVID tests, add masks to fight omicron
The federal government plans will double to 1 billion the rapid, at-home COVID-19 tests to be distributed free to Americans, along with “high-quality masks.”
Statewide COVID-19 hospitalizations hit another peak
The Indiana State Department of Health on Wednesday reported more than 15,000 new cases of COVID-19 and 125 additional deaths.
Omicron might be headed for rapid drop in United States, Britain
The reason: The COVID-19 variant has proved so wildly contagious that it may already be running out of people to infect, just a month and a half after it was first detected in South Africa.
COVID-19 hospitalizations in Indiana reach all-time high
Indiana Hospital Association President Brian Tabor said hospitals around the state “have reached a state of crisis with dwindling capacity left to care for patients.”
U.S. shoppers find some groceries scarce due to virus, weather
The shortages are widespread, impacting produce and meat as well as packaged goods such as cereal. And they’re being reported nationwide.
Pfizer plans to make up to 100M doses of omicron-specific vaccine by spring
The company has climbed to the lead in global vaccine production with 3 billion doses in 2021 and is planning to produce up to 4 billion doses in 2022.
CDC weighs recommending better masks against omicron variant
With the highly transmissible omicron variant spurring record levels of infections and hospitalizations, experts have repeatedly urged the Biden administration to recommend the better-quality masks rather than cloth coverings to protect against an airborne virus.
Some health providers letting COVID-infected staff stay on the job
The move is a reaction to the severe hospital staffing shortages and crushing caseloads that the omicron variant is causing.
Home COVID-19 tests to be covered by insurers starting Saturday
Under the new policy, first detailed to the AP, Americans will be able to either purchase home testing kits for free under their insurance or submit receipts for the tests for reimbursement, up to the monthly per-person limit.
Indiana’s death toll from COVID-19 climbs past 19,000
COVID-19 patients occupy 37% of Indiana’s intensive care unit beds. The state has 12.6% of its ICU beds available overall.
U.S. sends states monoclonal antibodies that might not work against omicron
The federal government has resumed shipping all three monoclonal antibody treatments—including one made by Indianapolis-based Eli Lilly and Co.—that are authorized for early-stage COVID-19 to states despite evidence that two might be ineffective against the omicron variant.
Supreme Court to weigh vaccine rules affecting more than 80M
The justices are scheduled to hear arguments Friday about whether to allow the Biden administration to enforce a vaccine-or-testing requirement that applies to large employers and a separate vaccine mandate for most health care workers.
White House, Postal Service making plans to ship COVID tests to households
Test manufacturers and distributors seeking to provide a share of the 500 million tests have submitted proposals to the government, and the Biden administration on Thursday evening awarded its first contract toward the purchase.
Indiana reports 150 more deaths as COVID cases surge to another high
COVID-19 patients occupy 36.2% of Indiana’s intensive care unit beds, leaving the state with only 9.5% of its ICU beds available overall.
State reports all-time high in new COVID-19 cases, rise in hospitalizations
The state health department also reported 39 more deaths from COVID, raising the cumulative total to 18,644.
Indiana state health commissioner tests positive for COVID-19 for second time
Indiana State Health Commissioner Dr. Kris Box is one of an estimated 113,000 Hoosiers to suffer a breakthrough case since Jan. 18, 2021.
Doctors bemoan limited supply of game-changing antiviral pills amid winter surge
Easy-to-take antiviral pills, authorized just before Christmas, were hailed as a potential turning point in the fight against the coronavirus because of the medicines’ ability to keep high-risk people out of the hospital.
COVID-19 surge not deterring push to end Indiana health emergency
A House committee is set to vote Thursday on a bill that includes administrative actions sought by Holcomb, along with provisions that would force businesses to grant broad exemptions to any workplace COVID-19 vaccination requirements.