Governor Eric Holcomb is moving ahead with the process of lifting the statewide mask mandate. The governor signed an executive order Wednesday that removes the mask requirement in most circumstances starting on Tuesday, April 6. But during Wednesday’s press conference, Holcomb said he’ll keep an eye on the potential need going forward.
Continue readingNewly-Eligible Hoosiers Signing Up for Vaccine, State Lifting Residency Requirements
Twenty-one thousand Hoosiers signed up for a COVID-19 vaccine in the first 30 minutes after the state expanded eligibility Wednesday. During Wednesday’s press conference, State Health Commissioner Dr. Kris Box said that number was up to 96,000 by noon.
Continue readingState Health Commissioner Urges Hoosiers to Continue Precautions during Spring Break Travel
Indiana’s state health commissioner is urging Hoosiers not to let their guards down when traveling for spring break. Dr. Kris Box says it’s important to wear a mask and take the same precautions you do at home, when you go out of state.
Continue readingState Health Commissioner Addresses Skepticism with COVID-19 Death Numbers
Yes, the COVID-19 pandemic that has taken the lives of more than 12,000 Hoosiers is deadlier than the typical flu. That’s according to State Health Commissioner Dr. Kris Box.
Continue readingHoosiers May Have to Wait Longer for Vaccine Appointments As Eligibility Expands
Indiana plans to expand COVID-19 vaccine eligibility to anyone 16 and older next Wednesday, but it might take a while before they actually get the vaccine. The increase in eligible Hoosiers will likely exceed the increase in available doses next week, but State Health Commissioner Dr. Kris Box says she expects the state to have enough vaccine for everyone who wants it by May.
Continue readingState Health Commissioner Working with Hospital Association to Ease Visitor Restrictions
It may soon be easier to visit loved ones in hospitals. State Health Commissioner Dr. Kris Box says her department has been working with the Indiana Hospital Association to bring their visitation policies closer to normal, if conditions allow.
Continue readingState Health Commissioner: Pandemic Is Far from Over
Indiana may be easing its COVID-19 restrictions in the coming weeks, but the state health commissioner cautions that the pandemic is far from over. Dr. Kris Box says the number of cases of the more infectious U.K. B.1.1.7 variant is now up to 73 in Indiana, and the state’s positivity rate has risen slightly in the past week.
Continue readingState Officials Continue Outreach Efforts to Encourage Vaccination
Hoosiers at the younger end of the state’s COVID-19 vaccine eligibility range are not signing up as quickly as older residents. During Wednesday’s COVID-19 press conference, State Health Commissioner Dr. Kris Box said her department continues to work with populations where there’s been a lot of vaccine hesitancy.
Continue readingState Health Commissioner Reviews Updated Visitation Guidelines for Long-Term Care Facilities
Visiting loved ones in long-term care facilities continues to get easier. State Health Commissioner Dr. Kris Box reviewed the latest guidance from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services during Wednesday’s press conference.
Continue readingState Health Commissioner Says Indiana Is Getting Fewer Vaccine Doses than Other States
About 13 percent of Indiana’s population is now fully vaccinated against COVID-19. But health officials say the state is getting fewer doses per resident than many others.
Continue readingState Health Officials Work to Fix Vaccine Registration Glitch, Update Vaccination Dashboard
A technical glitch may have been making it take longer for Hoosiers to get a COVID-19 vaccine appointment. Those who used the “find next available appointment” option were sometimes reportedly directed to a later date, even though earlier appointments were actually available.
Continue readingState Health Commissioner Urges Worshipers to Keep Wearing Masks in Church for Now
The idea of churches not requiring face masks is drawing concern from the state health commissioner. During Wednesday’s press conference, Dr. Kris Box noted that there may still be some high-risk individuals who haven’t been vaccinated yet.
Continue readingGovernor Plans to Address State about COVID-19 Roadmap
With COVID-19 cases down and vaccinations on the rise, Governor Eric Holcomb is planning an announcement about Indiana’s path forward.
Continue readingState, Federal Health Officials Easing Visitation Restrictions at Long-Term Care Facilities
It may soon be easier to visit loved ones in long-term care facilities. State and federal health officials separately announced Wednesday that they’re easing visitation restrictions.
Continue readingOne Year after COVID-19’s Arrival, State Officials Are Cautiously Optimistic
Today marks one year since Indiana reported its first case of COVID-19. It was on the morning of Friday, March 6, 2020 when state officials announced that a Marion County resident who had recently traveled to Boston had tested positive for the coronavirus. A week later, schools began to close, and a couple weeks after that, Indiana was under a stay-at-home order.
Continue readingWith COVID-19 Variants Looming, Health Officials Work to Address Vaccine Hesitancy
Health officials want to vaccinate people as soon as possible, but some Hoosiers remain hesitant. “We are in a race between the vaccine and the variants, and we want the vaccine to win,” Indiana Department of Health Chief Medical Officer Dr. Lindsay Weaver said during Wednesday’s COVID-19 press conference.
Continue readingIndiana Again Expands COVID-19 Vaccine Eligibility
Indiana has expanded COVID-19 vaccine eligibility to any Hoosier age 50 and older. Governor Holcomb announced the expansion during a press conference Wednesday afternoon.
Continue readingState Officials Defending Age-Based Vaccine Rollout amid Calls for Teacher Vaccination
There’s still no word on when teachers may become eligible for the COVID-19 vaccine. Indiana is using an age-based approach to the vaccine rollout, with the only exceptions being health care workers, first responders, and now individuals with specific medical conditions.
Continue readingState to Withhold COVID-19 Vaccine from Clinics That Repeatedly Ignore Eligibility Rules
Vaccination clinics that repeatedly ignore the state’s eligibility rules will stop getting doses, according to State Health Commissioner Dr. Kris Box.
Continue readingGovernor to Extend COVID-19 Restrictions by another Month
Indiana’s current COVID-19 restrictions will remain in place for another 30 days. During his weekly press conference Wednesday, Governor Eric Holcomb said he plans to extend both his executive order and the public health emergency declaration. “We have made remarkable progress in relatively a short period of time,” Holcomb said. “This is not a ‘mission accomplished’ moment.”
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