INDIANAPOLIS — Monday's latest updates on the coronavirus pandemic:
Red Cross urges for blood donations
The Red Cross is asking the community to help give the gift of life this holiday season. The Red Cross says blood donations typically take a hit this time of year.
Because of the pandemic, the organization expects it to be even more challenging this year.
Donations of all blood types are needed to ensure hospital shelves remain stocked to meet patient blood needs.
They're going to have dozens of blood drives all across central Indiana starting Dec. 16.
You can make your appointment to give blood, platelets or plasma with the Red Cross by downloading the Red Cross Blood Donor App, visiting RedCrossBlood.org, calling 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767).
Comcast extends free WiFi for low-income customers
Comcast announced it will continue to provide free internet service for the first 60 days for new Internet Essentials customers, and free access to more than 1.5 million public Xfinity WiFi hotspots through June 30, 2021.
Comcast says it is "extending its commitments to help people connect to the Internet during the COVID-19 pandemic as millions continue to stay home while many workplaces and schools operate virtually."
This is the third time Comcast has extended these commitments since the pandemic. For more information, click here.
Costco extends senior shopping hours
Costco said it is extending its special operating hours for older members "until further notice" as COVID-19 cases rise across the U.S., according to the company's website.
Customers that are eligible to participate in the special hours are anyone 60 years or older and those with disabilities or who are immunocompromised. However, the chain noted that guests of those customers will not be allowed to enter the store.
The move comes less than a month after Costco announced it was extending its mask mandate, requiring all shoppers, even those with medical conditions to properly wear one. No one, except for children under the age of two, is exempt from the rule.
Costco is still giving priority access to healthcare workers and first responders during all open hours. That includes police officers, EMTs, firefighters, even pharmacists and all hospital employees with a hospital ID. All must present a Costco membership card and official identification.
Canada to get Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine by end of 2020
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said Monday Canada will get up to 250,000 doses of the vaccine developed by American drugmaker Pfizer and Germany’s BioNTech before the end of December.
The vaccine is expected to be approved by Health Canada as soon as Thursday.
Trudeau said Canada has contracts with six other vaccine makers as well.
Seniors and workers in long-term care homes are among those expected to get the vaccine first.
ISDH daily update
The Indiana State Department of Health is reporting 5,700 new cases of COVID-19 and 42 more deaths from the virus. That brings the state's total to 387,278 positive cases and 5,986 confirmed deaths since the start of the pandemic.
The positivity rate between Nov. 24 and Nov. 30 was 13.8 percent for all tests and 27.2 percent for unique individuals.
The state has administered a total of 4,614,540 coronavirus tests to 2,323,969 individuals since the beginning of the outbreak.
MORE: Visit the ISDH dashboard
Milktooth moves to carryout only
Popular brunch spot Milktooth has switched to serving customers with carryout orders only.
The restaurant had a note on its website informing customers.
"We will be open for carryout only until further notice," the website says. "Call us or stop by for pick up!"
The restaurant will be open for carryout orders Friday through Sunday from 9 a.m. until 3 p.m.
Latest US, world numbers
There have been more than 14.76 million confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the U.S. as of 8:20 a.m. ET Monday, according to Johns Hopkins University. There have been more than 282,000 deaths and 5.62 million people recovered.
Worldwide, there have been more than 67.1 million confirmed cases with more than 1.53 million deaths and 43.1 million recoveries.
The real 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.
Rudy Giuliani hospitalized after testing positive for COVID-19
President Trump's lawyer and former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani has tested positive for COVID-19, making him the latest in Trump's inner circle to contract the disease that's surging across the U.S.
Giuliani was admitted Sunday to Georgetown University Medical Center in Washington, D.C., according to a person familiar with the matter who was not authorized to speak publicly.
Trump tweeted Sunday afternoon that Giuliani has the coronavirus, saying "get better soon Rudy, we will carry on."