.@GovHolcomb is about to start his daily #coronavirus briefing. He's expected to announce tweaks to Indiana's #stayhome order, which he's extending by another 11 days to May 1.
Holcomb is lifting a moratorium on elective medical procedures,"in a staged way." Starting tomorrow, #hospitals can conduct diagnostic procedures; on Monday, if supply of beds is still ample, he';ll open further.
48% of Indiana's ICU beds are open.
New Holcomb order includes a clarification: nurseries and pet groomers are allowed to stay open. Holcomb says they always were, but there was confusion.
Holcomb says the dialing back of restrictions on elective procedures reflects what Hoosiers have accomplished by following #stayhome order. He says he''ll continue to monitor numbers daily and decide how far it's safe to go.
State Health Commissioner Kris Box: #coronavirus death numbers will jump later this week, because state will incorporate cases where #COVID19 was listed as underlying cause, but not officially diagnosed. She says that will provide a more accurate picture.
Today's tally of new cases was the lowest in 5 days, the death toll lowest in a week, but Box says that's a case of the Mondays: reporting of cases isn't as robust on the weekends.
More than 100 Indiana #coronavirus deaths in #longterm care facilities. Box says IN will allow case-by-case relaxation of visitation restrictions for end-of-life, so families can say goodbye. (Still might not be possible in some instances, e.g. if family member at high risk.)
Holcomb: "We're looking at an army out there on the front lines": 16K doctors, 152K nurses, working to help #coronavirus patients.
Box: antibody tests will be very important in making decisions on loosening restrictions -- but we don't know how long immunity to #coronavirus lasts. And, as with flu, the virus could mutate, leaving people vulnerable to the next strain.
Holcomb, on Sat protest demanding immediate reopening, notes Marion County is home of 1/3 of Indiana's #coronavirus cases and deaths -- with protesters ignoring #socialdistancing and not wearing masks. He says it risks adding to doctors' burden in handling pandemic.
Holcomb: unmasked protest "a perfect Petri dish in which this can spread. I underline 'can.' I hope it doesn't." He and Box say protesters have right to do so, but says the way they did it risks adding stress to the system "in a flaunting way."
Holcomb: "There's nothing [government] can do to make people care about their neighbors." He earlier applauded Hoosiers who have gone the extra mile not just to observe #socialdistancing, but reach out to help others.
Holcomb general counsel Joe Harris: most complaints about businesses violating #lockdown order have been ruled unfounded (businesses really were classified as essential). 116 found to be valid; 74 warnings issued. None has advanced to next level of cease-and-desist letter.
Box on Carmel-based Aria Labs, which says IN turned down offer of testing kits, maintains that's not what happened. She says she talked with CEO, who said Aria is sometimes short of viral transport media but did have swabs to offer. 2K swabs were delivered next day.
More on lifting of ban on elective surgeries: "everything looking positive" to resume next Monday, but hospitals and state will review supplies not only of beds but PPE.
Box offered a little more insight on how the #lockdown might be phased out: she says it's possible people at risk due to age or underlying conditions might be instructed to work from home longer, while others go back to work.
Box: "The tests are there. The ability to run the tests are there. The problem in some parts of the state is a shortage of PPE." She says she'll be talking with providers in the next 36 hours about how to fill those gaps so patients can be sent to sites equipped to run tests.
Box: researchers who model the virus's progress update their projections on Wednesdays, update her and Holcomb Wed or Thu. "I'm not 100% sure we've reached the peak," but she says we're "running along the lowest line" of the different scenarios.
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