The massive, year-end catchall bill that President Donald Trump signed into law Sunday combines $900 billion in COVID-19 aid with a $1.4 trillion omnibus spending bill and reams of other unfinished legislation on taxes, energy, education and health care.
Employees now working remotely find themselves imagining the new shape of their work lives in a post-pandemic America. Some glimpse a proverbial light at the end of the tunnel; others see an oncoming train.
The increase fell short of predictions from the National Retail Federation, the nation’s largest retail trade group, which had expected sales to rise between 3.6% and 5.2% this year compared with 2019.
British authorities have blamed the new virus variant for soaring infection rates across the country. They said the variant is much more transmittable, but stress there is no evidence it makes people more ill.
The Indiana State Department of Health on Sunday said 4,792 new individuals had been tested, ending a streak of 61 straight days in which testing in that category had exceeded 10,000.
Statewide hospitalizations due to COVID-19 dropped to 2,808 on Christmas Day, down from 2,918 on Christmas Eve.
Indiana University Health promised a “full external review” into the treatment of Dr. Susan Moore, 52, who tested positive for COVID-19 late last month and died Dec. 20.
Statewide hospitalizations due to COVID-19 dropped to 2,918 on Thursday, the lowest number since Nov. 15.
After descending from a record-high mark of 3,460 set on Nov. 30, the number of patients hospitalized with COVID-19 has been rising since Saturday. State health officials also reported 62 more deaths on Wednesday, bringing the total to 7,306.
The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission has allowed companies to mandate the flu and other vaccines, and has also indicated they can require COVID-19 vaccines.
Pfizer’s vaccine was the first to gain approval from the Food and Drug Administration and initial shipments went to states last week.
Indiana received 55,000 doses of the Pfizer vaccine on Friday, and another 39,000 doses on Monday, which is a fraction of the state’s needs, officials say.
Meanwhile, statewide hospitalizations due to COVID-19 inched up to 3,064 on Monday from 2,967 on Sunday. The high mark was 3,460 set on Nov. 30.
The recommendation came as a second vaccine began rolling out to hospitals as the nation works to get the coronavirus pandemic under control.
Less than 20% of the monoclonal antibody doses shipped by two companies, Indianapolis-based Lilly and New York-based Regeneron, have have used, officials say, even though they can reduce hospitalizations by up to 70%.
In Indiana, the health department recently said it would no longer ask for a detailed list of symptoms and would encourage people to call their own contacts.
The state on Saturday reported 73 more deaths due to COVID-19, the 10th time deaths have exceeded 70 in the past 12 daily reports.
Much-needed doses are set to arrive Monday after the Food and Drug Administration authorized an emergency rollout of the vaccine developed by Moderna Inc. and the National Institutes of Health.
Red tape, staff shortages, testing delays and strong skepticism are keeping many patients and doctors from the drugs made by Eli Lilly and Co. and Regeneron Pharmaceuticals.
The Food and Drug Administration was evaluating a shot developed by Moderna Inc. and the National Institutes of Health and was expected to give it the green light soon, clearing the way for its use to begin as early as Monday.
