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.
Latest data from U.K. suggests omicron less likely than delta to require hospitalization
The early findings track well with the latest observations from South Africa, where public health officials have reported that omicron is tending to result in milder illness.
COVID surge leads to contingency plans for football championship game in Indy
If a new surge of COVID-19 ends up spreading wildly through college football’s top teams, a contingency plan would allow a champion to be crowned without the championship game ever being played in Indianapolis on Jan. 10 as planned.
Pfizer pill becomes first U.S.-authorized home COVID treatment
The drug, Paxlovid, is a faster, cheaper way to treat early COVID-19 infections and head off the worst effects of the virus. But initial supplies will be extremely limited.
Restaurants and theaters begin to close as omicron grips U.S.
There were no government orders or local restrictions prompting the closures this time around. Rather, businesses were forced to close due to too many staffers getting COVID—or out of caution.
Omicron at least doubles risk of getting infected on planes, airline adviser says
Passengers should avoid face-to-face contact and surfaces that are frequently touched, and people sitting near to each other should try not to be unmasked at the same time during meals, according to the top medical adviser to the world’s airlines.
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
[email protected] State’s virus-related executive orders State plan to reopen Indiana