Indiana reports surge in COVID cases, 170 more deaths
The state reported 3,058 hospitalizations on Monday, up from 2,982 the previous day. COVID patients occupy 38.7% of Indiana’s intensive care unit beds.
ESPN has $400M in college football playoff ads at risk from COVID
The national spike in COVID-19 cases imperils hundreds of millions of dollars in college football playoff advertising for Walt Disney Co.’s ESPN sports network because of the growing risk games might be canceled, Bloomberg Intelligence estimated in a note Tuesday.
QB Wentz joins COVID-19 list as Colts try to earn playoff spot
The timing couldn’t be worse for the Colts, who have rebounded from a 1-4 start to win eight of their past 10 games. They can clinch one of the seven AFC playoff spots with a win over the Raiders.
U.S. government puts pause on Lilly’s COVID antibody therapies
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services cited new data that shows the therapies are unlikely to be effective against the Omicron variant.
Statewide hospitalizations from COVID-19 rise to 2,982
COVID-19 patients occupy 38.2% of Indiana’s intensive care unit beds, according to the latest report from the Indiana State Department of Health.
Flu making comeback in U.S. after unusual year nearly off
In CDC figures released Monday, states with high flu activity are Indiana, New Mexico, Kansas, New Jersey, Tennessee, Georgia and North Dakota.
U.S. officials recommend shorter COVID isolation, quarantine
U.S. health officials on Monday cut isolation recommendations for Americans who catch the coronavirus from 10 to five days, and similarly shortened the time that close contacts need to quarantine.
Fauci: U.S. should consider vaccine mandate for domestic air travel
The Biden administration has thus far balked at imposing a vaccination requirement for domestic air travel. Two officials said Biden’s science advisers have yet to make a formal recommendation for such a requirement to the president.
U.S. health officials acknowledge shortage of at-home COVID tests
The Biden administration, which last week announced a plan to offer 500 million at-home tests to Americans sometime next month, has faced criticism in recent days over its failure to prepare an adequate supply of tests.
Fearing the ax in 2022, CEOs sweat supply chain more than COVID
A new survey of more than 3,000 top executives found that supply chain, labor market and digitalization topped the lists of concerns for 2022.
New easy-to-use COVID-19 pills require early use
The challenge for possible users is getting tested, getting a prescription and starting the pills in a short window.
Flight cancellations continue due to bad weather, sick crews
Airlines have canceled roughly 4,000 flights to, from or inside the U.S. since Friday. Delta, United, JetBlue and American have all said that the coronavirus was causing staffing problems.
COVID outbreaks taking toll on college football bowls
The Fenway Bowl and Military Bowl were both canceled due to the pandemic on Sunday, and the University of Miami withdrew from the Sun Bowl.
COVID-19 variant disrupts holiday travel, but not shopping
Globally, airlines scrapped more than 2,700 flights as of Sunday evening, nearing the more than 2,800 cancellations the day before.
Anger over mask mandates, other COVID rules, spurs states to curb power of public health officials
At least 19 states, including Indiana, have this year restricted state or local authorities from safeguarding public health amid the coronavirus pandemic.
United, Delta cancel more than 200 Christmas Eve flights as omicron hits staff
The U.S. airlines said they were working hard to accommodate as many passengers as possible, but the disruption comes during one of the busiest travel periods in years.
IU Health caring for record number of COVID-19 patients, gets help from Navy team
The state’s largest hospital system said Thursday it has resorted to turning conference rooms into patient wards as it adds hundreds of beds across its 16 hospitals.
FDA authorizes Merck’s anti-coronavirus pill, a second treatment option
Molnupiravir cut the risk of hospitalization and death in high-risk patients by 30%. In contrast, Pfizer’s antiviral drug, authorized on Wednesday, reduced hospitalizations and death by nearly 90%.
Omicron pulls workers back to eye of storm, as workplace outbreaks grow
The outbreaks are a reminder of the risks that front line workers continue to face on the job, and the central role that workplaces can play in the transmission of the virus.
Indiana’s COVID death toll tops 18,000
The Indiana State Department of Health on Wednesday reported 86 more deaths from COVID-19, raising the total death toll to 18,057. The seven-day average of deaths from COVID remained unchanged at 36 per day.
Resources
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention CDC Resources for Businesses and Employers OSHA Guidance on Preparing Workplaces for COVID-19 Indiana State Department of Health Indy Chamber Rapid Response Hub Small Business Administration The SBA is making low-interest loans for working capital available to Indiana small businesses. Indiana Unemployment Information Johns Hopkins Coronavirus Dashboard Critical Industries Hotline(for business and industry only)
877-820-0890
covidresponse@iedc.in.gov State’s virus-related executive orders State plan to reopen Indiana