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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Halls outside the Senate chamber where #abortion hearing is taking place are jammed with protesters. Chanting is audible in chamber.
Sen. Sue Glick (R-LaGrange) predicts amendments and discussion of possible criminal penalties. Abortion opponents have objected to the lack of enforcement provisions.
Testimony has begun. First witness is a woman raped twice as a teenager, urging legislators not to minimize the trauma accompanying sexual assault.
Nearly all of the 40 #INLegis Democrats are meeting with @VP at the Indiana State Library to discuss the #abortion bill. First Senate hearing is this afternoon.
.@VP Harris: #INLegis “on the front lines of one of the most critical issues in America today.”
Harris: Dobbs ruling “has already created a health care crisis in America….We are seeing many states attempting to criminalize heath care providers.”
2,839 new Indiana #coronavirus cases, with 9.4% of today's batch of tests positive. The 7-day positivity rate, which runs a week behind, continues a two-week plunge to 18.3%, still in @StateHealthIN's high-risk zone but lowest since Jan 3. Cases are down 60% from last week.
108 newly reported Indiana #coronavirus deaths, half from the last week but with five dating back to 2021. The death toll rises to 21,299. IDH has also identified one more presumptive #COVID19 death, for a total toll of 22,137.
Indiana #COVID19 hospitalizations drop below 2,000 for the first time since Nov 27 (and lowest since two days before that), at 1,932, down 104 from yesterday. Of those, 392 are in intensive care, 25 fewer than yesterday and fewest since Nov 21. The state has 300 open ICU beds.
All 92 counties are now rated red (high risk) on @StateHealthIN's weekly risk score.
16,502 new Indiana #coronavirus cases, 2nd-highest total ever, but 3rd week-over-week drop in 5 days.
24.3% of today's batch of tests were positive. The 7-day positivity rate, which runs a week behind, holds steady at a record 30%. It's the 1st time since Dec 26 it hasn't risen.
118 newly reported Indiana #COVID19 deaths, all but 13 in the last five days (but with one late report from 2021), push the death toll to 19,761. IDH has retracted three presumptive #COVID deaths, for a total toll of 20,500.
Debate begins in Indiana House on final vote on bill limiting employer #vaccinemandates.
House Majority Leader Matt Lehman: "This bill is not about the vaccine itself; it's about the people affected" by mandates. #INLegis
Lehman points to nurses who testified they fear getting fired for being unvaxed, after working for 9 months of pandemic before #vaccine became available.
Last week's #SCOTUS ruling means those nurses aren't affected by this bill; they're still required to get vaxed or get fired.
710 Hoosiers are in ICU with #COVID19, one fewer than yesterday and the fourth straight drop, but a jump in non-#COVID patients drops the number of open Indiana ICU beds to 218. Overall, 3,460 Hoosiers are hospitalized with COVID, 97 more than yesterday after a three-day decline.
12,126 new Indiana #coronavirus cases, with 25% of today's batch of tests coming back positive. The 7-day positivity rate, which runs a week behind, sets a 15th straight record at 30%.
77 newly reported Indiana #coronavirus deaths, all in the last week; this is the first @StateHealthIN report with no belated reports from 2021 (though there could be more later). The 2-year death toll rises to 19,643; counting presumptive #COVID19 deaths, the total is 20,385.