.@GovHolcomb about to begin his daily #coronavirus briefing.
Box: today's relatively low #coronavirus case numbers reflect a continuation of the technical glitch reported yesterday. That suggests a likely jump in cases soon.
Box: of nearly 1,600 #coronavirus cases in #longtermcare facilities, 63% are residents; 37% are staffers.
.@LGSuzanneCrouch: Indiana has hired a consultant to assess state-specific impact of #pandemic on #tourism, and make recommendations.
Crouch is appearing from her statehouse office, while Holcomb is in his, one floor below.
Holcomb and Box have always appeared from the governor's office, sometimes joined by others (@IndyMayorJoe, @SenToddYoung). Often there'll be a question about a specific agency, and the camera will move to reveal a Cabinet member in the office who hadn't previously been in frame.
Box: there are two kinds of swabs, the longer (nasopharyngeal) swab and a shorter (anterior) swab. She says the shorter swabs return a large number of incorrect results in both directions, especially with people who aren't showing symptoms.
Box: important to track down and count *all* #coronavirus cases, including those which went undiagnosed at the time. If you omit those, death rate looks artificially high.
Box: the addition of "probable" #coronavirus deaths won't be hundreds -- probably less than 100. But it will bump up the numbers.
Another coming attraction teaser from Holcomb: he says tomorrow's briefing will include an update on the state's efforts to obtain more #PPE (masks, gloves, etc). Box says that, along with a swab shortage, is the biggest obstacle to increasing #TestingForCovid19.
Box: "I don't think there is any comparison" between #flu and #coronavirus. "There is no herd immunity to #COVID19; this is a new strain." Both hit similar populations with similar symptoms, but "This is a totally different animal. This is much more lethal."
Average annual #flu deaths in Indiana, per Box: 154
Flu deaths in 2018, an exceptionally bad flu year: 314
#Coronavirus deaths in Indiana in less than two months: 661, so far
Box: ISDH has been working with #meatpacking plants in Indiana; there have been some #covid19 cases at some facilities. Same "strike teams" which go to longterm care facilities have visited plants to advise on disinfection protocols, social distancing, other protective measures.
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