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.
Franciscan Health Indianapolis closes vaccine clinic
After more than six months and nearly 65,000 doses, Franciscan Health's Indianapolis vaccine clinic closed Wednesday, June 30. The health care system will continue to offer the vaccine to physicians' patients.
ISDH update
The Indiana State Department of Health reported 7,072 more people are now fully vaccinated against COVID-19, as of Wednesday morning. That brings the total number of Hoosiers fully vaccinated to 2,815,538.
ISDH also reported 295 new positive tests for the virus, along with six additional deaths that occurred June 17-29.
Indiana has lost 13,426 people to COVID-19. The new cases bring Indiana's total to 753,927 residents now known to have had the novel coronavirus.
Marion County to lift most virus restrictions July 1
Indianapolis Mayor Joe Hogsett announced Tuesday Marion County will be lifting most coronavirus restrictions July 1.
This includes allowing full capacity at restaurants, bars and sports venues. People who aren't vaccinated will also no longer be required to wear a mask indoors. However, Mayor Hogsett urged those who aren't vaccinated to still wear a mask.
The news comes as Marion County leaders make big moves toward getting the county vaccinated.
Marion County Public Health Director Dr. Virginia Caine said the county has reached the 40 percent mark of fully vaccinated individuals. This number reflects 40 percent of the entire county, including those who aren't eligible for the vaccine. Caine said 48 percent of the eligible population is fully vaccinated.
Mobile vaccination clinics this week in central Indiana
Wednesday-Friday (9 a.m. to 6 p.m.)
Madison County:
Ivy Tech, Anderson
815 E. 60th St., Anderson, IN 46013
Fayette County:
Ivy Tech, Connersville
717 W. 21st St., Connersville, IN 47331
Wednesday-Saturday (9 a.m. to 6 p.m.)
Howard County:
Second Missionary Baptist Church
819 N. Apperson Way, Kokomo, IN 46901
Thursday-Friday (3 p.m. – 9 p.m.):
Monroe County:
Monroe County Fair
5700 W. Airport Rd., Bloomington, IN 47403
Patients with an appointment at a state-hosted public vaccination site can get a free Uber or Lyft ride. Call 2-1-1 or (866) 211-9966 to receive a voucher to cover the cost of an Uber ride to and from your vaccination appointments. IU Health offers free Lyft rides to any vaccine site in the state. Call 1.888.IUHEALTH (888-484-3258) and choose option 9 if you need transportation to your vaccine appointment.
Marion County vaccination incentives continue through July 2
Any Marion County resident who gets vaccinated at one of the health department’s COVID-19 vaccine clinics or pop-up locations through July 2 will be entered to win a selection of prizes donated by generous community partners. Daily drawings will be held for smaller items, with the winners of the larger items to be randomly selected following July 2.
Prizes include:
- A package of two Indianapolis Colts season tickets with a signed Peyton Manning rookie jersey
- Two Half-Season Indiana Pacers ticket packages, each also including a signed Domantas Sabonis 2020 All-Star jersey
- Indianapolis Indians clubhouse tickets and a jersey
- Tickets to the Children’s Museum of Indianapolis
- A gift basket from the Indianapolis Zoo that includes a free membership
- Fun cards for pool admission at Indy Parks
More information is posted at marionhealth.org/vaccinateindy.
Those with unanswered questions or concerns about the vaccine can call the health department vaccine hotline at 317-221-2100 between the hours of 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. or visit cdc.gov/coronavirus or ourshot.in.gov.
Virus infections surging in Africa's vulnerable rural areas
A new surge of the coronavirus is finally penetrating Africa’s rural areas, where most people on the continent live, spreading to areas that once had been seen as safe havens from infections that hit cities particularly hard.
Health care facilities in the rural areas are poorly staffed and lack the resources to handle the spike in infections, while hospitals in cities are under strain as they are treating an increasing number of people coming from the countryside.
The delta variant of COVID-19 that has devastated India has been detected in at least 14 African countries, including Congo, Mozambique, South Africa, Namibia, Uganda and Zimbabwe.
Latest US, world numbers
There have been more than 33.65 million confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the United States as of 4:30 a.m. ET Wednesday, according to Johns Hopkins University. There have been more than 604,400 deaths in the U.S.
Worldwide, there have been more than 181.8 million confirmed coronavirus cases with more than 3.93 million deaths. More than 3 billion vaccine doses have been administered worldwide.
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.