INDIANAPOLIS — Here are Wednesday's latest updates on the coronavirus pandemic, including the latest news on COVID-19 vaccinations and testing in Indiana. Registrations for the vaccine are now open for Hoosiers 12 and older through the Indiana State Department of Health. This story will be updated over the course of the day with more news on the COVID-19 pandemic.
Gov. Holcomb calls for state employees to return to in-person work
As the COVID-19 vaccine becomes more widely available and restrictions are steadily loosening, Gov. Eric Holcomb has called for all state employees to return to their offices for work no later than July 6.
In a letter to colleagues, Holcomb recognized the workers in government agencies that have been on the front lines throughout the pandemic, and said the time has come for other workers to return.
Holcomb outlined a timeline to return:
- Starting June 7, all agency heads, senior staff and supervisors should be working in person full time.
- By June 21, non-supervisory workers should be working in person at least 50 percent of the work week.
- By July 6, all workers should be working in person full time.
Holcomb noted that any state employees who may not have been working in person full time prior to the pandemic can continue that routine.
Holiday World drops mask requirement for fully vaccinated guests
Holiday World & Splashin' Safari is following recent guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in dropping its mask mandate for fully vaccinated guests.
The southern Indiana theme park updated its safety guidelines Wednesday, stating fully vaccinated guests may resume activities without wearing a mask or staying 6 feet apart.
Guests who are not fully vaccinated are encouraged to wear masks indoors and in outdoor spaces where social distancing isn't possible, as well as maintaining 6 feet of social distancing between others not in their group.
The theme park said it will rely on guests to follow the guidelines based on their vaccination status.
The CDC considers people fully vaccinated two weeks after they've had their second shot of the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine, or two weeks after they've had the single-dose Johnson & Johnson vaccine.
ISDH numbers
The Indiana State Department of Health reported 15,663 more people were fully vaccinated against COVID-19 Wednesday morning. Indiana's total number of individuals who are fully vaccinated now stands at 2,460,195.
ISDH also reported 655 new cases of COVID-19 Wednesday, along with six more deaths from the virus. The deaths were reported between April 8 and May 25. To date, 13,155 Hoosiers are confirmed to have died from COVID-19.
The new cases recorded Wednesday brings the state to 741,697 residents now known to have had the novel coronavirus.
CDC director cautiously urges vaccinated Americans to enjoy 'normal' Memorial Day
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky reiterated some welcome news Tuesday, saying that it is safe for COVID-vaccinated people to enjoy most activities without a mask, including Memorial Day weekend activities.
“If you are vaccinated, you are protected, you can enjoy your Memorial Day,” Dr. Walensky reassured Americans.
This is the first major holiday travel weekend since the COVID-19 vaccines have been made available to all adults and some children. During Tuesday's White House COVID-19 Task Force briefing, Walensky reassured the public that the vaccination efforts are paying off.
"We have seen after holiday weekends in the past that cases have risen, but we've never been in a position where we've had almost half the adults in American vaccinated and protected from this virus," Walensky said.
While the news is very good for those who have been vaccinated, there are still about half of all American adults, according to White House figures, who have yet to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19.
Walensky said Tuesday, "Our guidance is very clear, if you are vaccinated, you are protected, and if you are unvaccinated in the context of Memorial Day weekend, we are really encouraging you to adhere to our guidance for people who are unvaccinated, and of course to get vaccinated."
Unvaccinated people are still advised to wear masks in most situations, and to social distance.
Pop-up clinics coming to Speedway's Main Street
The Marion County Public Health Department is holding a race-themed COVID-19 vaccination clinic this week in Speedway.
The walk-up clinic, held in partnership with the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, will be held Thursday and Friday on Main Street.
The Thursday clinic will be open from 2-7 p.m. on Main Street and Friday's clinic will be held from 2-5 p.m. near Fundae's as part of "Rockin' on Main."
The clinics will offer the two-dose Pfizer vaccine for those 12 years of age or older and the one-shot Johnson & Johnson vaccine for those 18 and up.
Mobile vaccination clinics in central Indiana this week
Tuesday-Thursday (9 a.m. to 6 p.m.):
Mooresville High School
550 N. Indiana St., Mooresville, IN 46158
Tippecanoe County Amphitheater
4449 IN-43, West Lafayette, IN 47906
Tuesday-Friday (9 a.m. to 6 p.m.)
Reynolds Parking Lot
401 W. Second St., Reynolds, IN 47980
Patients with an appointment at a state-hosted public vaccination site can get a free Uber ride. Call 211 or (866) 211-9966 to receive a voucher to cover the cost of an Uber ride to and from your vaccination appointments.
Vaccine inequality in India sends many falling through gaps
The disparities of the coronavirus pandemic were already stark in India, where access to health care is as stratified and unequal as other parts of its society.
Now, the divide along the lines of wealth and technology are further widening that chasm, and many people are falling through the gaps as vaccines remain inaccessible to millions. This worries health experts who say such inequality could slow India’s fight against the virus that has been killing more than 4,000 people a day.
The disparity is expected to worsen as the virus takes hold in India’s vast countryside, where the health care system is weak and the true extent of the damage is hard to gauge.
Latest US, world numbers
There have been more than 33.1 million confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the United States as of 4 a.m. ET Wednesday, according to Johns Hopkins University. There have been more than 590,900 deaths in the U.S.
Worldwide, there have been more than 167.8 million confirmed coronavirus cases with more than 3.48 million deaths. More than 1.7 billion vaccine doses have been administered worldwide.
The actual number of people infected by the virus around the world is believed to be much higher — perhaps 10 times higher in the U.S., according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention — given testing limitations and the many mild cases that have gone unreported or unrecognized.
For most people, the coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms. For some, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness like pneumonia, or death.