Indiana reports increase of 635 COVID-19 cases, 3 more deaths
The state has seen an increase of 5,169 cases over the past week, an average of 738 per day. That’s a significant increase over the previous week.
Health Care
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Oxford coronavirus vaccine safe and promising, according to Phase 1 results
The Oxford candidate is one of 23 vaccines now being tested in human trials, according to a running tally kept by the World Health Organization. More than 130 others are in preclinical trials.
Area builders see big jump in home-construction applications
After a slowdown in May, applications for home construction permits made a solid rebound in the Indianapolis area in June despite the pandemic.
IPS delays school reopenings due to COVID-19 concerns
In-person classes and remote learning will now begin on Aug. 17, instead of the previously planned Aug. 3 start. Families can also reconsider whether they want full-time virtual learning when school starts.
Trump seeks payroll tax cut while GOP insists on liability protections
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell is expected to introduce an approximately $1 trillion stimulus bill in coming days that will include a limited extension of federal unemployment benefits. Those benefits are set to expire as soon as this week.
Indiana reports second-highest daily increase in COVID-19 cases
Indiana has seen new COVID-19 cases rise for five straight days and has reported more than 700 new cases for four straight days.
Bank CEOs warn of tougher economic road after recent gains
The road to recovery for the U.S. economy will be uneven, unclear and uncertain as the coronavirus retains its hold on business and Americans’ everyday activities, according to the heads of the nation’s biggest banks.
Public health veteran Dr. Virginia Caine both upbeat and frustrated
IBJ talked with Caine about her pandemic frustrations, how testing and contact-tracing are going and whether the Indianapolis 500 should run with fans in the stands.
Indiana reports more than 700 new COVID-19 cases for third straight day
The Indiana State Department of Health on Friday said more than 600,000 tests for COVID-19 have been administered in the state during the pandemic, with 9.1% of those tested found positive.
Two local restaurant groups to require masks at all eateries
Cunningham Restaurant Group and Huse Culinary—which altogether operate more than 30 eateries—said they were taking the step to help prevent the spread of COVID-19 and protect diners and employees.
Federal Reserve expands lending program to not-for-profit groups
The Fed said Friday that its Main Street Lending Program, which is targeted to mid-sized businesses, will now extend credit to not-for-profits with at least 10 employees and endowments of less than $3 billion.
Indiana educators brace to return to classrooms despite coronavirus health risks
Even in schools and districts that are offering virtual programs, it’s unclear how many teachers will be dedicated to remote instruction and whether those positions will go to teachers who are high risk.
New House bill seeks equal pay, protections for growing numbers of temporary workers
Critics of the bill, including the American Staffing Association, say the bill would reduce companies’ flexibility in the labor market and hurt job creation at a time when too many people are already unemployed.
Experts say Twitter breach troubling, undermines trust
The FBI said Thursday it is investigating the hacks, and said the high-profile accounts “appear to have been compromised in order to perpetuate cryptocurrency fraud.”
NCAA lays out plan for playing, but warns of surging pandemic
The NCAA handed down its latest guidelines for playing through a pandemic while also sounding an alarm: The prospect of having a fall semester with football and other sports is looking grim.
Indiana’s virus testing program falling short on sites, results
Indiana’s state-sponsored coronavirus testing program has not been meeting the levels of testing or the speed of results that were touted when it was started in May under contractor OptumServe Health Services.
Target latest retailer to require customers to wear masks
Target follows Walmart, Kohl’s, Best Buy and several other large retailers that are making masks mandatory in all stores.
U.S. retail sales jumped 7.5% in June before virus cases bounced back
The report shows how shoppers and businesses are adjusting to life in a pandemic, changing their habits in hopes of halting an illness that can quickly flare up and wreak financial havoc.
Indiana reports more than 700 COVID-19 cases for second straight day
Indiana has seen more than 2,600 COVID-19 deaths since the beginning of the pandemic, the state health department said Thursday.
Indiana reports big spike in weekly unemployment claims
The U.S. Labor Department’s Thursday report showed that applications for jobless aid fell by about 10,000 nationally from the previous week. The figure has now topped 1 million for 17 straight weeks.