INDIANAPOLIS (WTHR/TEGNA/AP) — Wednesday's latest updates on the coronavirus pandemic.
BCSO and Red Cross team up for blood drive to fight COVID-19
The Boone County Sheriff's Office and the American Red Cross announced they are teaming up to host a blood drive to help fight COVID-19.
"The blood drive comes on the eve of Indiana's slow open and hopes to stock healthy blood for those vulnerable to the virus," the BCSO said in a release.
The blood drive will be held on Wednesday, May 27 from 2 to 7 p.m. in the basement garage of the BCSO (1905 Indianapolis Avenue), located on the southeast side of the jail. The door to the basement is located straight in from the main entrance, around the right side of the jail to the ramp leading downstairs.
No walk-in appointments will be accepted. To sign up and make an appointment, visit the Red Cross website here. https://www.redcrossblood.org/
The Red Cross will only have four donors in at a time to do the blood draws, so they ask that people stay in their cars until their scheduled time.
Gov. Holcomb update on plan to reopen
Governor Eric Holcomb and state leaders are providing an update on the progress with reopening Indiana.
FSSA homeless update
FSSA said safe recovery sites setup for those experiencing homelessness has been critical in keeping from having an outbreak at a facility.
The sites allow those testing positive to get the care they need and still stay with family when possible.
ISDH updated numbers
There are more than 800 new confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Indiana, totaling 21,870 in the state. There were an additional 51 deaths reported on Wednesday with more than 1,200 Hoosiers total having died from the virus.
About 18 percent of Hoosiers tested for COVID-19 have tested positive.
Indy Mayor Hogsett gives update on restrictions and re-opening timeline
Indianapolis Mayor Joe Hogsett and Marion County health leaders are giving an update on Marion County's stay-at-home order and timeline for reopening.
Hogsett reaffirmed Marion County's restrictions are in effect through at least May 15, despite Gov. Eric Holcomb's statewide guidance. That includes restrictions on food and beverage businesses and large gatherings.
He clarified there would be no special exceptions for places of worship in Marion County.
Hogsett said he doesn't know when Marion County will be able to join the other Indiana counties in the five-phase reopening plan Holcomb has set out, but the it will "when the time comes."
Dr. Virginia Caine of the Marion County Public Health Department said they hope to release a more detailed timeline of Marion County's reopening next week. Caine reminded people to wear face coverings while out in public.
IMPD Chief Randal Taylor said his department's intent during this time is not to arrest people for large gatherings, but make sure everyone understands the policies. They will give warnings, but if large gatherings are not broken up, they will turn to arrests if appropriate.
Greenwood cancels Freedom Festival
The City of Greenwood has canceled its annual Freedom Festival out of abundance of caution to slow the spread of COVID-19.
The patriotic community celebration, which draws more than 60,000 people annually, takes place the last Saturday every June and was scheduled for June 27.
The City of Greenwood also provided updates on more summer activities and events:
- Playgrounds, tennis courts, basketball courts, pickleball courts, skate parks and softball diamonds scheduled to open May 24
- Greenwood Community Center opening scheduled for May 24 for members only
- Maximum capacity – 100 people
- Kid City remains closed until at least July 6
- Access limited to front entry
- Fitness Equipment allocated per social distancing guidelines
- No adult/youth programs
- Drinking fountains not in use (bottle fillers only)
- Locker rooms/showers closed
- Courts open for shoot around only; no game play allowed; visitors must bring their own ball
- Mud Day, scheduled to take place on June 5, has been canceled
- Freedom Springs Aquatic Center opening scheduled for June 15 for members only; per state and CDC guidelines, permitted occupancy will be 50 percent
- June 19 Adult Night – Canceled
- July 9 Family Fun Night – Planned as scheduled
- July 24 Adult Night – Planned as scheduled
- Aug. 14 Adult Night – Planned as scheduled
- Shelter house rental scheduling is open for bookings beginning June 15; rentals exceeding an occupancy of 250 allowed beginning July 4
- Summer Camp, which was originally planned to start on May 26, is now scheduled to start on June 15; this may change depending on decisions regarding local schools
- City Center Park splash pad scheduled to open June 15
- Registration for fall Before/After-School Care begins June 15; timing and implementation of the program will depend on decisions regarding local schools
- Summer Concert Series will begin July 11; the series may be extended through August and September to accommodate additional concerts
Latest US, world numbers
There have been 1.2 million confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the U.S. as of 4:15 a.m. ET Wednesday, according to Johns Hopkins University. There have been more than 71,000 deaths and nearly 190,000 people recovered.
Worldwide, there have been 3.66 million confirmed cases with 257,000 deaths and nearly 1.2 million recovered.
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, including pneumonia and death.
It was the sounds of silence in New York City’s subway system, as the normally round-the-clock system shut down for train cleaning.
The trains, which had been running on a reduced schedule since late March, were scheduled to stop from 1 a.m. to 5 a.m. Wednesday. That's going to be the new daily routine, to allow for daily cleanings and for city workers to move homeless people who have been more visible in subway cars during the coronavirus.
The New York Police Department has assigned more than 1,000 officers to secure many of the system’s 472 stations, as fewer than 200 can be physically locked up.
Pelosi pushes ahead on massive virus bill, but GOP wary
House Democrats are seeking to drive the debate on the fifth coronavirus response bill, promising to produce a mega-package stuffed with Democratic priorities even as a chorus of GOP leaders voices hesitation about more spending.
Speaker Nancy Pelosi promises that the Democratic-controlled House will deliver legislation to help state and local governments through the COVID-19 crisis, along with additional money for direct payments to individuals, unemployment insurance and a third installment of aid to small businesses. The amount of funding is to be determined.
The California Democrat is leading the way as Democrats fashion a sweeping package that is expected to be unveiled soon even as the House stays closed while the Senate is open in the pandemic.
The contours of the next package are taking shape despite Republican resistance to more spending and a deepening debate over how best to confront the pandemic and its economic devastation. Some Republicans such as Sen. Mitt Romney of Utah and a group of GOP governors want to be more generous to states confronting furloughs and cuts to services as revenues plummet and unemployment insurance and other costs spike.
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said Tuesday it's time to push “pause” on more aid legislation — even as he repeated a “red line” demand that any new aid package include liability protections for hospitals, health care providers and businesses operating and reopening.
Tyson Foods to reopen pork plant in Iowa
Tyson Foods will begin limited operation Thursday of its huge pork processing plant in Waterloo, Iowa, more than two weeks after closing the facility because of a coronavirus outbreak among workers, the company announced Tuesday.
Tyson said workers have been invited to tour the plant Wednesday to see enhanced safety measures and social distancing procedures that have been implemented. The plant has been closed since April 22, and the Iowa Department of Public Health reports 444 workers have tested positive for the virus.
The plant is Arkansas-based Tyson’s largest pork processing operation, with the ability to process 19,500 hogs per day. That accounts for 3.9 percent of the U.S. pork processing capacity, according to the National Pork Board.