INDIANAPOLIS — Monday's latest updates on the coronavirus pandemic.
Regal to temporarily close all US theaters starting Friday
Cineworld said Monday it will temporarily close over 500 Regal Cinema locations in the U.S., along with 127 Cineworld and Picturehouse venues in the U.K.
The theaters are set to close Friday "until further notice," the company said, due to the impact the coronavirus pandemic has had on business. It was a delay in delivery of the new James Bond film which became the last straw for the struggling theater chain.
Kayleigh McEnany tests positive
White House Press Secretary Kayleigh McEnany said she tested positive for the coronavirus on Monday.
In a statement posted on Twitter, McEnany said on Monday morning she tested positive for COVID-19 but didn't have any symptoms. She added that she had tested negative every day since Thursday, when news broke that top White House aide Hope Hicks had tested positive. Since Thursday, President Donald Trump, Melania Trump and several others that had recently been at the White House have tested positive.
She spoke briefly with reporters Sunday evening, without wearing a mask, but says that no members of the White House press corps spent enough time around her to be considered close contacts.
She said she has begun quarantining, but she will continue to work "on behalf of the American people remotely."
ISDH gives updated numbers on COVID-19 in the state
The Indiana State Department of Health reported 835 new confirmed cases and seven more deaths.
The state's total number of cases is more than 125,000 while the total number of deaths is nearing 3,500.
More than 2 million Hoosiers have been tested for the virus.
Franklin College suspends in-person classes, activities for 1 week
Franklin College has suspended all in-person classes and activities for this week after an uptick of positive COVID-19 cases in student-athletes.
In an update from President Kerry N. Prather Friday, he said the week's testing results showed a higher positivity rate, which was unusual.
Last week's tests returned 15 positive COVID-19 tests, out of the 73 student-athletes who were tested. That's an increase from only one of the 46 athletes tested the previous week getting a positive result.
"This higher rate of positivity is concerning and unusual," Prather said.
As a result, the school is using this week to verify the accuracy of the testing and comparing results to those from a wider sample of the entire school population.
In-person classes, athletic activities and other co-curricular activities will not occur from Oct. 5 until Oct. 9.
IPS begins phased return to in-person learning Monday
Indianapolis Public Schools begins a phased reopening plan Monday, Oct. 5 for students to return to in-person learning.
On Monday, students in grades pre-K through third grade will return to the classroom.
However, all students will return to remote learning the week of Oct. 12, which was the week formerly scheduled for fall break.
On Monday, Oct. 19, the remaining students will return for in-person learning, but seventh through 12th-grade students will be on a hybrid schedule. They'll only be in the classroom two days a week and learning at home for the other three.
Masks will be required for all students and staff in grades K-12. The district is providing one reusable mask to each student and staff member.
IPS has implemented many health and safety protocols to protect students and staff:
IPS is hosting a virtual session to provide more information on the transportation changes for in-person learning students.
The Zoom event begins Tuesday, Oct. 6 at 6 p.m., and the information will be provided in English and Spanish.
Click here to register.
Latest US, world numbers
There have been more than 7.42 million confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the U.S. as of 12:30 a.m. ET Monday, according to Johns Hopkins University. There have been more than 209,000 deaths and 2.91 million people recovered.
Worldwide, there have been 35.07 million confirmed cases with more than 1.03 million deaths and 24.41 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.
Cineworld may close all Regal Cinema locations in US, UK after Bond delay
Cineworld could close all of its more than 500 Regal Cinema locations in the U.S. and all cinema locations in the United Kingdom and Ireland in the next week, after a delay in the new James Bond film became the last straw for the struggling theater chain.
Variety reports that after "No Time to Die" was pushed back to April 2021, the company said it's considering shuttering its theater locations, and a reopening date could possibly be delayed until next year. All Cineworld and Regal Cinema locations in both the U.S. and U.K. could be closed as early as this week.
The cinema chain said Sunday that it is considering closing all its movie theaters in Britain and the U.S., after the 007 film postponement left a big hole in schedules.
Cineworld Group PLC owns 543 Regal cinemas in the U.S. and 128 Cineworld venues in the U.K. and Ireland.