New IU president Whitten tests positive for COVID
Pamela Whitten, who took over as Indiana University president July 1, said she began experiencing “mild cold symptoms” Thursday morning before being tested.
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Franciscan Health to require employee vaccinations or immunity tests
Franciscan joins two other large hospital systems in central Indiana—Indiana University Health and Community Health Network—in laying down the new health requirement.
Indiana COVID-19 cases climb to nine-week high
The health department reported one more death from COVID-19, raising the cumulative total to 13,535. The state said it has averaged one new death per day from COVID over the past seven days.
Vaccinated staff, students can go mask-free when school starts, IPS says
Indianapolis Public Schools students and staff who are vaccinated do not have to wear masks in classrooms when school starts, according to new district guidance. Unvaccinated students will be required to wear masks at school, and the district recommends that staff continue to wear masks around unvaccinated students, especially children under 12 who are currently […]
Rare ‘breakthrough’ COVID cases causing alarm, confusion
Health authorities have warned that even though the COVID-19 vaccines are incredibly effective—the Pfizer and Moderna ones about 95% against symptomatic infection in studies—they’re not perfect. No vaccine is.
Indiana expected to get $507 million from opioid settlement
Local governments currently litigating, such as Indianapolis, were provided the ability to opt out of the state’s opioid plan. Those local governments have the opportunity to opt back in within 60 days of opting out, according to the attorney general’s office.
Appeals court again affirms on rehearing in ex-Anthem exec’s suit
Members of the Indiana Court of Appeals haven’t changed their minds in a case involving a fired Anthem executive’s failed appeal of a jury verdict for the insurance company,
CDC probes deaths in immunized patients in nursing homes
The CDC conducted its investigation of delta variant outbreaks in elder care facilities in Colorado, but that state isn’t alone in seeing nursing home outbreaks as large shares of staff remain unvaccinated. Indiana has its own troubling incident.
Indiana COVID-19 cases, hospitalizations continue to rise
The state said more than 2.9 million Hoosiers have been fully vaccinated against COVID-19 after a daily increase of 5,833. More than 2.87 million have received the first dose of a two-dose vaccination.
Medicaid growth helps insurer Anthem beat Q2 expectations
The health insurer’s profit dropped as patients who hunkered down last year at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic started seeking care again, but growing enrollment in government-funded programs such as Medicaid and Medicare Advantage helped balance the jump in care use.
Purdue: 60% of students fully vaccinated against COVID-19
The vaccination rate for Purdue students is about twice the rate of individuals ages 16-29 across the state, the school said.
Indiana COVID-19 cases hit highest level in two months; hospitalizations rise
The health department reported five new deaths from COVID-19 on Tuesday, raising the cumulative total to 13,530.
Four companies on verge of settling U.S. opioid lawsuits for $26B
The national settlement is expected to be the biggest single settlement in the complicated universe of litigation over the opioid epidemic in the United States. It won’t end the cases, but it would change them.
NCAA hit hard by pandemic last fiscal year, spent $68M on legal fees
Revenue was down more than 50% over the previous fiscal year, from more than $1.1 billion to just more than $520 million, mostly because the lucrative college basketball tournaments were canceled as the coronavirus hit the United States early in 2020.
Stocks skid as virus fears shake markets; Dow falls 2.1%
Indianapolis-based shopping mall owner Simon Property Group was among the companies hit hard Monday, with its stock falling 5.9%, to $117.19 per share.
UPDATE: Federal judge affirms Indiana University vaccine requirement
The judge held a hearing on the case last week and wrote in his ruling dated Sunday that evidence so far shows that IU has pursued a reasonable policy in the “legitimate interest of public health for its students, faculty and staff.”
Travel stocks slump over spike in nationwide coronavirus cases
Stocks were down broadly Monday out of concern over rising infections in many countries, and airline and cruise line stocks were hit especially hard.
Statewide COVID hospitalizations hit highest level since June 15
The state said more than 2.89 million Hoosiers have been fully vaccinated against COVID-19 after a weekend increase of 9,947.
With pandemic worsening in U.S., surgeon general expresses concern
While U.S. case numbers and hospitalizations are still far below levels from the worst of the pandemic early this year, Dr. Vivek Murthy said the worsening situation shows the need to convince more people to get inoculations.
Pfizer says U.S. regulators agree to ‘priority review’ for COVID vaccine
Vaccines cleared for emergency use still must undergo the stringent full approval process, a step that might help persuade some people who aren’t yet immunized to roll up their sleeves.