Hundreds of Indiana National Guardsmen are currently deployed in the state’s long-term care facilities, as part of the fight against COVID-19. Staff Sgt. Maira Beltran is one of them. She had the chance to discuss her experience at the Morrison Woods Health Campus in Muncie during Governor Holcomb’s COVID-19 press conference Wednesday.
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Indiana’s frontline health care workers and long-term care facility residents could be vaccinated against COVID-19 by the end of the year. State Health Commissioner Dr. Kris Box said Wednesday that both Pfizer and Moderna have now applied for an FDA emergency use authorization, and Indiana is preparing to receive limited supplies as early as mid-December.
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Millions of high-grade face masks will soon be made in Jasper County. Indiana Face Mask has gotten its federal certification to make N95 masks, according to Governor Eric Holcomb.
Continue readingThe Indiana Department of Health has streamlined the contact tracing interview process. State Health Commissioner Dr. Kris Box said Wednesday that contact tracers are now focusing on notifying the person of a positive test result, what symptoms to look for, and how to isolate.
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The number of COVID-19 deaths and hospitalizations continues to draw concern from Indiana’s state health commissioner. During Wednesday’s press conference, Dr. Kris Box said the number of deaths continues to increase, especially in long-term care facilities.
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Indiana is helping to crack down on violations of COVID-19 restrictions, but is encouraging local health departments to “take the lead.”
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The Indiana Department of Health continues working to reduce the strain on COVID-19 testing labs. State Health Commissioner Dr. Kris Box said Wednesday that the high testing volume has led to longer wait times for results.
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A COVID-19 vaccine continues to move closer to approval. State Health Commissioner Dr. Kris Box said Wednesday that Pfizer has officially applied for an emergency use authorization from the FDA, and a meeting has been scheduled for early December to determine whether to issue it.
Continue readingIndiana is looking to update its contact tracing procedures, amid the surge in COVID-19 cases. Back in May, the state contracted with a company called Maximus to launch a centralized contact tracing center to ease the burden on local health departments. But now, the Starke and Pulaski County health departments say they’re being inundated with cases, and they need to hire part-time nurses to keep up.
Continue readingCollege students heading home for the holidays are being asked to spend the first 14 days in quarantine. State Health Commissioner Dr. Kris Box said Wednesday that many of the state’s new COVID-19 cases are in the 18-to-30 age group, just as colleges are getting ready to send their students home.
Continue readingIndiana’s hospitals continue to struggle, amid the COVID-19 surge. The number of COVID-19 hospitalizations in the state surpassed 3,000 for the first time this week.
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Governor Eric Holcomb says he and his wife Janet remain in good health, after several members of their security detail tested positive for COVID-19. During Wednesday’s COVID-19 briefing, the governor said by phone that they’re following the directions of the state health commissioner and hunkering down.
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Governor Eric Holcomb is in quarantine, after several members of his security detail have reportedly tested positive for COVID-19. A statement from the Governor’s Office Tuesday says Governor Holcomb and First Lady Janet Holcomb are considered close contacts, and State Health Commissioner Dr. Kris Box has advised them to quarantine.
Continue readingState officials are urging Hoosiers to adjust their holiday plans to avoid the spread of COVID-19. During last week’s COVID-19 press conference, Governor Holcomb warned that the virus is often spread when family members and friends let their guards down.
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Hospitals are being forced to make adjustments, to try to maintain capacity amid the spike in COVID-19 cases.
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Indiana’s new restrictions on gatherings will not apply to churches. Governor Eric Holcomb said Wednesday that churches will continue to be exempt as they were in the Back on Track plan, but he still urges congregations to take precautions.
Continue readingA new COVID-19 treatment is starting to make its way to Indiana patients. State Health Commissioner Dr. Kris Box says Eli Lilly got an FDA emergency use authorization for its antibody treatment on Monday, and the first two patients were treated at a Jeffersonville hospital on Tuesday.
Continue readingNew restrictions on social gatherings will take effect this weekend, amid what Governor Holcomb is calling a second surge of cases. “So beginning November 15 and for the next month, I’ll sign an executive order that will implement pandemic requirements for all Hoosiers and targeted restrictions for counties that are in the orange and red status,” Holcomb announced during a press conference Wednesday.
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State health officials are making sure they’re ready for a COVID-19 vaccine to arrive in mid-November, but whether it will actually get here by then remains to be seen. During Wednesday’s COVID-19 briefing, Indiana Department of Health Chief Medical Officer Dr. Lindsay Weaver said the state’s been asking hospital systems to help identify potential distribution sites.
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State officials say they don’t expect in-person voting to lead to a spike in COVID-19 cases. Several counties reported a large voter turnout, and many places had long lines, especially during early voting.
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