Thread by @EricBermanIN

Aaaannnd we're off. @GovHolcomb's #coronavirus briefing underway.

https://twitter.com/marybschneider/status/1261362201467772933

Box: total number of patients in the hospital peaked April 14 at around 1800. Steady decreases since then.

(Total #coronavirus patients, obvs.)

Box credits Hoosiers' observance of #socialdistancing and #stayhome orders.

Box: nearly 100K Hoosiers tested in last month, nearly double the 59K tested in the preceding six weeks.

As she's said previously, Box says she expects some increase in hospitalizations as restrictions are loosened, but says hospitals have capacity to handle it.

Centralized contract tracing began this week in 21 counties, representing 56% of #coronavirus cases. The rest will be added Monday.

.@SecretaryLawson is at the governor's conference table, so it looks like we'll have an update on plans for the June 2 #INPrimary.

20K orders received by state's #PPE marketplace; they'll ship 12K bundles next week.

.@SecretaryLawson: "It goes without saying that we all need to remain vigilant." Her office is supplying #PPE to all 92 counties for pollworkers and election staff.

Lawson: 5000 gal of hand sanitizer, 4000 gal of disinfectant and 85K cloths, 3k pairs of gloves, 27K masks and face shields procured for election staffers and equipment. Some being held in reserve in case of a recount ("Let's hope not").

Lawson: 28 counties have already received their supplies; rest should get theirs next week.

Lawson: supplies are for staff, not voters. You should wear a mask if you vote in person; you still have six days to request a mail-in ballot.

Absentee ballots must be received (not postmarked) by noon on primary day.

So far, 330,647 #absenteeballots have been cast, 56,148 in Marion County.

Lawson: if you do vote in person, strongly consider early voting, which starts May 26 (check local listings). They're hoping to spread out when people are at polling places.

Some counties still need pollworkers. Your day's pay does not count against #unemployment.

A non-COVID update: Holcomb reminds Hoosiers to fill out the #census.

Box on formation of panel to look at racial disparities in #coronavirus, which mirror racial disparities in overall health. She says one major focus will be outreach with health information.

Box says 43% of state-run drive-thru tests have been minority patients.

Lawson predicts 2-3 days to get primary results, especially in large counties, because of large number of mail-in ballots.

Lawson: won't decide for a while whether to extend universal mail-in voting option to the November #Election2020 as well. She says primary shows it's logistically possible, but she'll await CDC guidance, and see how next month's primary goes.

Box on FDA concerns about accuracy of Abbott testing kits: 30-40% reported false negative rate is "very disturbing." She recommends if providers get a negative result on someone who seems to show all the symptoms, do 2nd test with nasopharyngeal swab.

Box says ISDH's drive-thru testing sites do not use the Abbott ID machine.

Holcomb says he will cast his vote in person, though he may take advantage of #earlyvoting to spread out attendance at polling places.

Holcomb says it's "for the courts to decide" whether @AGCurtisHill or @IndyMayorJoe is correct about legality of Indy order capping number of people at religious services. But he says he remains supportive of Hogsett or any mayor who wants stricter limits than state has imposed.