The state said more than 3 million Hoosiers had been fully vaccinated against COVID-19 as of Friday at 5 a.m. More than 3 million had received the first dose of a two-dose vaccination.
The vaccination news comes as the nation continues to experience an increase in coronavirus cases, hospitalizations and deaths. Ninety percent of U.S. counties are now experiencing substantial or high transmission of the virus.
The late-night announcement by the Food and Drug Administration applies to several million Americans who are especially vulnerable because of organ transplants, certain cancers or other disorders.
Supreme Court Justice Amy Coney Barrett’s action came in response to an emergency request from eight students, and it marked the first time the high court has weighed in on a vaccine mandate.
Marion County reported 417 new COVID-19 cases, the most in the county since Jan. 22.
The seven-day moving average of new deaths rose from six to eight, the Indiana State Department of Health said on Wednesday.
The state reported 27 new deaths from COVID, the largest number of new deaths in the daily report since 28 were reported on March 12.
Members of the U.S. military would be required to have the COVID-19 vaccine beginning Sept. 15, under a plan announced by the Pentagon on Monday. That deadline could be pushed earlier if the vaccine receives final FDA approval or infection rates continue to rise.
Cumulative COVID-19 cases rose from 781,326 in Friday’s state report to 786,272 on Monday, a weekend increase of 4,946 cases.
Roughly 9,000 health clubs—22% of the total nationwide—have closed since the beginning of the virus outbreak, according to the International Health Racquet & Sportsclub Association.
Wages have been rising rapidly as the economy reopens and businesses struggle to hire enough workers. Some of the biggest gains have gone to workers in some of the lowest-paying industries.
After a largely mask-free summer, it’s a reversal no one wanted to see, brought on by the fast-spreading delta variant and new guidance from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control.
The move follows steps by a slew of other retailers, including Walmart and Target, to mandate masks for their workers.
Friday’s report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention adds to growing laboratory evidence that people who had one bout of COVID-19 get a dramatic boost in virus-fighting immune cells—and a bonus of broader protection against new mutants—when they’re vaccinated.
The state reported nine new deaths from COVID-19, lifting the cumulative death total to 13,624. The seven-day moving average of new deaths increased from five to six.
United, which has 67,000 employees in the United States, has been requiring vaccination of new hires since mid-June.
If the Biden administration goes forward with the plans, it would amount to a dramatic escalation in the effort to vaccinate the roughly 90 million Americans who are eligible for shots but who have refused or have been unable to get them.
The department said statewide hospitalizations due to COVID-19 rose from 933 on Tuesday to 977 on Thursday.
The governor has maintained he won’t reinstate a statewide mask mandate or other restrictions, instead leaving such decisions to local officials.
The updated guidance mostly follow CDC recommendations and come as football practices start across the country.
