COVID case counts losing some importance amid omicron
The explosive increase in U.S. coronavirus case counts is raising alarm, but some experts believe the focus should instead be on COVID-19 hospital admissions. And those aren’t climbing as fast.
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Indiana reports 172 more COVID-19 deaths, rise in hospitalizations
The Indiana State Department of Health on Tuesday reported 8,533 new COVID cases across the state. That’s the second-highest number of new cases ever reported in the department’s daily update.
Indiana National Guard to help at Riley Hospital, beleaguered with COVID patients
The hospital has admitted about four times as many children for COVID-19 treatment in recent weeks as in any previous wave during the pandemic.
CDC approves shorter time between Pfizer COVID vaccine, booster
The CDC also recommended that children ages 5 to 11 with moderately or severely weakened immune systems receive an additional dose 28 days after their second Pfizer shot.
Indiana limits COVID rapid-test availability at state, local testing sites
The Indiana Department of Health on Tuesday said it was putting restrictions on the availability of rapid tests for COVID-19 at state and local health department testing sites “due to high demand and a national shortage of rapid test kits.”
Thousands of flights canceled, delayed at start of workweek
A winter storm that hit the mid-Atlantic on Monday combined with pandemic-caused shortages of airline workers to push flight cancellations to a holiday-season high, creating more frustration for travelers just trying to get home.
Omicron upends return to U.S. schools and workplaces
Across the United States, new COVID-19 cases have tripled in the past two weeks, to more than 400,000 a day, the highest level on record.
Statewide hospitalizations from COVID-19 continue to climb
The Indiana State Department of Health said 3,164 people were hospitalized due to the virus as of Sunday, the highest mark since Dec. 15, 2020. That’s up 31% over the past month.
FDA expands Pfizer boosters for more teens as omicron surges
Boosters already are recommended for everyone 16 and older, and federal regulators on Monday decided they’re also warranted for 12- to 15-year-olds once enough time has passed since their last dose.
CES gadget show stages wary return amid COVID-19
The latest sign of the influential technology event’s dwindling size was Friday’s announcement that CES will run one day shorter than originally planned.
Omicron clouds forecasts for COVID pandemic’s endgame
The ultra-contagious omicron mutant is pushing cases to all-time highs and causing chaos as an exhausted world struggles, again, to stem the spread. But this time, we’re not starting from scratch.
CDC mulling adding COVID test requirement to isolation guidelines
Dr. Anthony Fauci said the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is now considering including the negative test as part of its guidance after getting significant “pushback” on its updated recommendations last week.
Judge blocks COVID vaccine mandate for Head Start program
U.S. District Judge Terry Doughty wrote that the Biden administration unlawfully bypassed Congress when ordering that workers in Head Start programs be vaccinated by Jan. 31 and that students 2 years or older be masked when indoors or when in close contact outdoors.
Some colleges moving classes online for start of 2nd semester
Many colleges hope that an extra week or two will get them past the peak of the nationwide spike driven by the omicron variant. Still, the surge is casting uncertainty over a semester many had hoped would be the closest to normal since the start of the pandemic.
Colts activate QB Carson Wentz from COVID-19 list
Wentz, who is unvaccinated, must have a negative test Sunday to be allowed to play under new protocols adopted by the NFL and the players’ union this week.
Indiana reports new all-time high for COVID-19 cases
Indiana on Thursday reported 48 more deaths from COVID-19, coming on top of 58 deaths the previous day and 170 in Tuesday’s report.
Feds press nursing home COVID boosters as staff cases spike
Cases among nursing home staffers jumped to 10,353 the week ending Dec. 27, a rise of nearly 80% from the previous week, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Indiana COVID-19 cases hit highest level in more than a year
The Indiana State Department of Health on Wednesday reported 3,061 hospitalizations due to COVID-19, the highest number since Dec. 12, 2020.
Widespread flight cancellations continue as omicron spreads
Omicron has intensified already significant staffing issues for airlines, which winnowed workforces in 2020 as air travel collapsed, only to be broadsided when vaccination rates jumped and millions of people felt comfortable flying again this year.
Revised COVID protocols keep Colts QB Wentz a possibility for Sunday
Less than 24 hours after NFL officials eased COVID-19 isolation rules, Indianapolis Colts Coach Frank Reich is installing contingency game plans as he waits to see who might be available to play against Las Vegas.