Thread by @EricBermanIN

.@GovHolcomb about to begin his daily #coronavirus briefing.

.@StateHealthIN Commissioner Kristina Box is back, after missing the last several briefings due to the death of her father.

Box's opening statement returns to a q from yesterday, noting that Indiana has the highest infection rate of any state which is moving to reopen. She says IN has more cases because of the high number of Hoosiers with underlying health conditions.

Box also notes the three counties with the most cases -- Marion, Lake, Cass -- remain under lockdown.

20 @Optum testing sites at @INNationalGuard armories opened today; appointments strongly recommended. Box emphasizes that people at high risk because of age or underlying conditions do NOT need to have symptoms to get tested.

Holcomb is joined by 2 regional Chamber of Commerce leaders to lend backup to decision to start reopening. First, South Bend regional Chamber President Jeff Ray, who says companies have been thinking through how to keep customers/workers safe.

At past briefings, Box has occasionally conducted "interviews" of offsite guests before start of Q&A. This time, there are two of those, with @confectionsmd talking to leader of Indy #coronavirus recovery site for #homeless, and now Holcomb asking questions of Chamber leaders).

NB: The South Bend Regional Chamber president is Jeff Rea, not Ray.

Now Holcomb introduces Wendy Dant Chesser, who heads SE Indiana's One Southern Indiana. There's going to be less than half an hour for Q&A.

Now a #NationalNursesDay salute to a Peru nurse who bought a coat for a patient she noticed didn't have warm clothes in winter. #ThankYouNurses

Q&A finally underway, 68% of the way into the allotted briefing time.

Box: "there are often hiccups" on first day of anything, and says a couple of the new @Optum testing sites had trouble getting started this morning.

She says armory sites were chosen to make sure there was room for #socialdistancing in line, and hopes people are observing it.

.@confectionsmd: state has added more staff with more experience to hotlines for #suicide and #domesticviolence as mental strain of #pandemic increases.

Holcomb on Indy's announcement today ordering houses of worship to remain closed this weekend and next: "I'm not going to second-guess the mayor's decision. It was the right decision for Marion County."

"Sail through the storm." DRINK

Holcomb says his preference remains for #churches to conduct livestream or drive-thru services, but says given the importance of Hoosiers' spiritual health, houses of worship were appropriate for relaxed restrictions before others. But full support of stronger local restrictions.