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Indiana coronavirus updates for Thursday, May 20, 2021

The latest updates on the coronavirus pandemic from Thursday, May 20, 2021.

INDIANAPOLIS — Here are Thursday'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.

RELATED: Here's everything we know about the COVID-19 vaccine

Meijer giving $10 coupons to vaccinated shoppers

Under its new "Get Vaccinated & Get Rewarded" incentive, Meijer is giving customers a $10 off coupon for any purchase when they complete the vaccination process at one of its pharmacies.

The retailer is also offering a separate coupon for $10 off a purchase of $50 or more for customers who previously completed their vaccines, with any provider. Customers who have already been vaccinated can bring their completed vaccination card to a local Meijer Pharmacy to receive the coupon.

Both coupons are valid through July 15, 2021.

Registration for the COVID-19 vaccine at Meijer can be completed here.

State reports 25K more people fully vaccinated, 8 additional deaths

The Indiana State Department of Health reported 25,242 additional people have been fully vaccinated for COVID-19 as of Thursday morning.

As of today, a total of 4,928,911 COVID-19 vaccine shots have been administered in Indiana. This includes 2,557,011 first doses and 2,371,900 individuals who are fully vaccinated. The fully vaccinated number represents individuals who have received a second dose of the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines and another 174,424 people who received the single Johnson & Johnson vaccine. 

ISDH also reported eight additional deaths due to COVID-19 on Thursday. Those deaths occurred between Feb. 14 and Wednesday. As of Thursday, 13,108 Hoosiers are confirmed to have died from the virus, with another 417 probable deaths reported in patients who died with COVID-19 symptoms but had no positive test on record. 

The state also reported 929 additional Hoosiers have been diagnosed with COVID-19 from tests done at state and private labs. A total of 738,173 Indiana residents are now known to have contracted the virus.

Mobile vaccination clinics this week

Mobile vaccination clinics will be held this week on the following schedule (all times 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.):

Thursday

  • Lawrence County
    Bedford First Assembly of God
    2601 27th St., Bedford, IN 47421 
  • Cass County
    Logansport Welcome Center
    418 4th St., Logansport, IN 46947
  • Howard County
    Second Missionary Baptist Church
    819 N. Apperson Way Kokomo, IN 46901

Friday

  •  Howard County
    Second Missionary Baptist Church
    819 N. Apperson Way Kokomo, IN 46901

Saturday

  •  Howard County
    Second Missionary Baptist Church
    819 N. Apperson Way Kokomo, IN 46901

To find testing sites around the state, visit www.coronavirus.in.gov and click on the COVID-19 testing information link.

When do I still need to wear a mask?

Whether you still need to wear a mask depends mostly on whether or not you're vaccinated. The latest guidance from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says you no longer need a mask in most cases if you're fully vaccinated. That includes when you’re outside and in many indoor spaces like restaurants, hair salons and grocery stores. 

Unvaccinated people are still advised to wear masks indoors and in certain outdoor settings. That includes children under 12 who aren't yet eligible for the vaccines. 

Everyone still needs to follow local and business rules, regardless of their vaccination status.

US jobless claims drop to 444,000, a new pandemic low

The number of Americans seeking unemployment aid fell last week to 444,000, a new pandemic low and a sign that the job market keeps strengthening as consumers spend freely again, viral infections drop and business restrictions ease.

Thursday’s report from the Labor Department showed that applications declined 34,000 from a revised 478,000 a week earlier. The number of weekly jobless claims — a rough measure of the pace of layoffs — has declined steadily since the year began.

About 16 million people were receiving unemployment benefits during the week ending May 1, the latest period for which data is available, the government said Thursday. That is down from 16.9 million in the previous week, and it suggests that some Americans who had been receiving aid have found jobs.

Indianapolis plans to ease mask mandate, other virus limits

Indianapolis officials plan to lift the city’s mask mandate for those fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and ease other restriction on June 7. Indianapolis and Marion County have kept more stringent coronavirus precautions in place even as the statewide mask order and other restrictions ended in early April. 

Mayor Joe Hogsett said Wednesday that the delay gives “another two-and-a-half weeks’ worth of shots in arms” to reduce the coronavirus spread. 

Marion County health officials expect a proposal to the City-County Council will raise capacity limits for bars from 50% to 75% and allow full capacity for religious services.

Prince William receives first dose of COVID-19 vaccine

Prince William said Thursday he has received his first dose of COVID-19 vaccine as Britain’s National Health Service expands its inoculation program to younger people.

William, 38, received his shot at London’s Science Museum, one of the large-scale vaccination centers opened around the country. A photo of the prince receiving his shot was posted on his social media account.

Republicans rebel against mask requirement in House chamber

Republicans are rebelling against the requirement that they wear a mask on the House floor, stoking tensions with majority Democrats who are refusing to change the rules following updated guidance from federal health officials.

Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., led an effort Wednesday to get the Office of the Attending Physician to update its guidance for mask wearing for vaccinated lawmakers and staff while they are in the House chamber and in committee hearing rooms, but Democrats defeated it along a party-line vote of 218-210.

Lawmakers can remove their masks when speaking on the House floor, but otherwise must keep it on when they are in the chamber. There is no requirement for wearing masks in the Senate chamber.

Democratic lawmakers say they are tired of the requirements, too, but they worry that some of their Republican colleagues have declined to be vaccinated and could spread the virus.

EU finalizes deal with Pfizer-BioNTech for 1.8 billion doses

The European Union's executive arm on Thursday finalized a third vaccine contract with Pfizer and BioNTech through 2023 for an additional 1.8 billion doses of their COVID-19 shot.

The European commission said the deal, made on behalf of all 27 EU countries and agreed to earlier this month, will allow purchase of 900 million doses of the current shots and of a serum adapted to the virus' variants, with an option to purchase an extra 900 million shots.

The signature of the agreement comes less than a week before a court hearing in Brussels pitting the Commission against the pharmaceutical company AstraZeneca, which is accused by the EU of failing to deliver the promised number of doses of its own vaccine.

The Commission said that the deal with Pfizer-BioNTech stipulates that the production of doses must be based in the EU and that essential components are sourced from the region. 

China says its providing vaccines to almost 40 African states

China says it is providing COVID-19 vaccines to nearly 40 African countries and described its actions as purely altruistic.

Foreign Ministry official Wu Peng compared China’s outreach to the actions of “some countries" waiting to finish vaccinating their own people, in an apparent dig at the United States. 

The U.S. so far has committed to sharing 80 million of its doses with the world. The U.N. Security Council has called for more COVID-19 vaccines to be made available for Africa, where only 2% of doses have been administered. 

China’s vaccine diplomacy means much of the world’s population will get the humble, Chinese-made shots instead of the fancy Western vaccines boasting strong efficacy rates. 

Latest US, world numbers

There have been more than 33 million confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the United States as of 3:30 a.m. ET Thursday, according to Johns Hopkins University. There have been more than 587,800 deaths in the U.S.

Worldwide, there have been more than 164.9 million confirmed coronavirus cases with more than 3.4 million deaths. More than 1.5 billion vaccine doses have been administered worldwide.

RELATED: See where confirmed Indiana coronavirus cases are with this interactive map

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.

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