Updates from Governor Eric Holcomb’s press conference

Governor Eric Holcomb closed 2020 with another of the virtual press conferences that became common this year as heads of state gave regular updates on the coronavirus pandemic.

State Health Commissioner Dr Kristina Box joined the governor for Wednesday’s press conference, which took place the same day the state health department released its update. weekly update of color coded card which determines the restrictions.

This week’s map update included a fix to an error that Box announced last week and an adjustment to how the department calculates the seven-day positivity rate for counties. The number of counties in red, showing the highest level of spread of the virus, jumped after the changes.

After adjusting the COVID-19 data: Indiana counties in red jump

Daily issues: How to read the Indiana coronavirus dashboard

The state health ministry has also reported 109 new confirmed deaths from COVID-19 on Wednesday, bringing the state’s confirmed death toll to 7,812.

The department also reported 4,819 new cases, bringing the state’s total cases to more than 505,000.

Here’s what we learned at this week’s press conference:

• Holcomb said he would extend his executive order for another three weeks and keep much of it; however, the new ordinance will again authorize elective procedures in hospitals. The governor said hospitals had requested it and assured him they could handle the number of patients.
• Box said she had personally had the opportunity to immunize some frontline healthcare workers. She said the vaccine gives her hope.
• The health commissioner said Indiana recorded low test totals in December. She said the brief closures of testing locations did not take into account the significant drop in testing. She encouraged Hoosiers to get tested if they are at risk, have had close contact with someone who tested positive, or if they are showing symptoms.
• The number of Hoosiers hospitalized with COVID-19 recently declined, Box said, but she said vacation travel could see a further increase in the coming weeks.
• Box asked Hoosiers not to become immune to the high number of deaths seen in recent weeks.
• She said correcting a software error resulted in an increase in the positivity rate statewide, but the overall trend has largely remained the same. She stressed that the other measures were not affected by this change.
• The Health Commissioner gave tips on how to celebrate the New Year safely, including counting the New Year on the phone or getting out of your home to celebrate the New Year with your neighborhood remotely.
• Lindsay Weaver, the chief medical officer, said nearly 76,000 Hoosiers received their first dose of a COVID-19 vaccine. She said the state’s health department will add immunization totals to its dashboard and update it weekly.
• Indiana has so far received about 146,000 doses of the Pfizer vaccine and about 152,000 doses of the Moderna vaccine, she said.
• Weaver said she expects vaccinations to resume after the holidays. She said hospitals are working to confirm that people are eligible health workers to be vaccinated before giving the vaccine. She encouraged licensed health workers to get vaccinated soon, saying their time has come.
• Jennifer Sullivan, secretary of the state’s Family and Social Services Administration, said everyone is grappling with the mental health issues of the pandemic, and she said it will continue through the winter. .
• She encouraged Hoosiers to use BeWellIndiana.org complete a mental health self-assessment. As of April, 25,000 Hoosiers have completed these assessments, many of which are under the age of 25.
• Sullivan said Hoosiers can call 211 or 866-211-9966 to speak to a trained crisis counselor 24 hours a day for free. She said the line has received more than 6,000 calls this year.
• She encouraged everyone to develop a self-management mental health strategy. Loneliness and isolation are the main drivers of mental health issues, she said, saying calls and even postcards can help with this. She told Hoosiers it was okay to ask for help.
• U.S. Senator Mike Braun joined the remote press conference to discuss the COVID-19 stimulus bill recently passed by Congress and signed by President Donald Trump.
• He said the paycheck protection program that started with the CARES Act was very popular and was renewed in this recent package. The program helps businesses with loans that could be canceled if certain circumstances were met. He said Hoosiers with questions about the program could contact his office.
• Braun said Hoosiers can expect the $ 600 in direct payments from the new stimulus package to reach bank accounts in the coming days.
• When asked if $ 600 was enough, Braun said he was okay with a higher amount of money when it is for people in pain. He cited the unemployed as an example. He said targeting the larger checks on people who particularly need them would help keep costs down. President Trump has asked for checks for $ 2,000.
• Asked about reports that teachers have received vaccines at some hospitals, contradicting current plans, Weaver said the state continues to remind hospitals to only vaccinate health workers at this time; However, she said hospitals can vaccinate other people if there are extra doses left at the end of the day without a health worker needing them.

Contact IndyStar transport reporter Ethan May at [email protected] or 317-402-1058. Follow him on Twitter: @EthanMayJ.