Major U.S. airlines to require passengers to wear face masks
The move comes as airlines big and small contemplate how to comply with social-distancing recommendations in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic.
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Simon says it won’t defy state-at-home orders in reopening malls, calls speculation it might ‘very offensive’
A company official said it’s “preposterous” to think the company would reopen its malls, especially those in its home state, while stay-at-home orders are still in place.
Local lending app’s COVID mission mirrors angelic name
Taylor Simpson says the coronavirus outbreak is “the perfect launchpad” for his Indianapolis startup, The Halo App. If that sounds cold, it’s not, he insists. Simpson explained that helping people has always been his firm’s primary mission. This month, in response to the pandemic, Simpson is putting his money where his mouth is
Stocks post best month since 1987 despite daily drop
Investors continue to weigh a brutal economic picture against hopes for a coronavirus treatment and an eventual end to lockdown measures across the world.
New Indiana coronavirus order won’t ban tighter local rules
Any easing of Indiana’s statewide stay-at-home order won’t limit the authority of city or county officials from imposing tighter restrictions in their attempts to slow the coronavirus, the governor said Thursday.
NASCAR to resume season with 7 races in 10 days—and no spectators
NASCAR has set guidelines to safely hold the events using CDC guidelines on social distancing and personal protective equipment. Only essential personnel will be permitted to attend the events.
Pence wears mask as he tours Indiana plant making ventilators
Vice President Mike Pence toured the General Motors facility in Kokomo, which had been closed due to the coronavirus and was brought back online in mid-April to produce critical care ventilators for hospitals around the country.
Small business survey finds majority of companies want to open now
A survey of about 350 members of the National Federation of Independent Businesses found 59% want state and local governments to lift stay-at-home orders immediately and let companies reopen.
Fear of virus isn’t reason enough to qualify for unemployment benefits
Gov. Eric Holcomb recommended that Hoosiers concerned about returning to work go to their employer “and try to work these things through and make sure they understand and realize where you’re coming from.”
State reports another big rise in COVID-19 cases, 43 more deaths
The Indiana State Department of Health said Thursday that the cumulative death toll in the state rose to 1,007, up from 964 the previous day.
U.S. consumer spending plunges record 7.5%, reflecting virus
The Commerce Department said the spending decline was the sharpest monthly drop on records that go back to 1959.
UPDATE: Marion County’s extended stay-at-home order could stop Simon’s plans to reopen Indy malls
Indianapolis Mayor Joe Hogsett’s chief of staff, Thomas Cook, said Thursday morning that Castleton Square Mall, Circle Centre and the Fashion Mall at Keystone won’t likely be allowed to reopen Saturday under Marion County orders.
U.S. initial unemployment claims top 3.8M; Indiana sees more than 57K new claims
Roughly 30.3 million people have now filed for jobless aid in the six weeks since the coronavirus outbreak began forcing millions of employers to close their doors and slash their workforces.
One in six nursing homes across nation report COVID-19 outbreak
The tally paints a grim picture of the scale of the outbreak in homes tasked with caring for the elderly and infirm. More than 2,700 Medicare-certified nursing homes had publicly reported cases as of Tuesday.
Indiana schools pitch radical way to protect budgets in case students don’t return
There are growing worries among school officials that fewer students will return this fall. And in a state where funding is doled out per student, a drop in enrollment would mean an immediate financial hit to schools.
Economists: Quick rebound from recession is unlikely
Among the concerns is that people—employees and consumers alike—will remain too wary of contracting the coronavirus to return to anything resembling normal economic behavior.
Marion County to begin COVID-19 testing Thursday aimed at minority populations
Tests will be administered from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Thursday and Friday at Eastern Star Church’s main campus at 5750 E. 30th St. to address the disparities in the impact of COVID-19 among African Americans and other high-risk populations.
U.S. stocks rally on hopes for coronavirus drug
The Nasdaq composite index rose to within 1% of erasing losses for the year, led by Alphabet after it reported an ad-sales slowdown that wasn’t as bad as expected.
Indiana hires Virginia company to handle ‘contact tracing’ of COVID-19 patients
By outsourcing the job to Virginia-based Maximus Inc., Indiana health officials hope to take the burden off of local health departments for the time-consuming job of contacting all COVID patients and learning who they might have exposed.
Study: Gilead drug proves effective in speeding coronavirus recovery
An experimental drug has proved effective against the new coronavirus in a major study, shortening the time it takes for patients to recover by almost a third on average, U.S. government and company officials announced Wednesday.