INDIANAPOLIS — 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 select groups through Indiana State Department of Health. This story will be updated over the course of the day with more news on the COVID-19 pandemic.
IU Health vaccinates 100,000th patient
Indiana Health marked its 100,000th vaccination late Thursday morning, when Raynell Freeman of Indianapolis received her first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine at IU Health Methodist Hospital.
The health care provider said they have vaccinated 75,000 people at their seven clinics and 25,000 more have received their second dose since Dec. 16.
Freeman and her husband celebrated the milestone with a cake with the vaccine clinic staff.
ISDH update
The Indiana State Department of Health is reporting 2,890 new cases and 34 additional deaths from COVID-19.
Butler men's basketball game moved from Friday to Saturday
Butler University's men's basketball game vs. Xavier at Hinkle Fieldhouse, originally scheduled for Friday, Jan. 29, has been moved to Saturday, Jan. 30.
The change was made due to additional COVID-related testing precautions.
Tipoff is set for 5:30 p.m. ET.
Tickets purchased originally for the Friday game will be valid for Saturday’s game. Fans can contact the Butler Ticket Office for a credit on their account or a refund if they are unable to use the tickets on Saturday.
US jobless claims drop to still-high 847,000 as pandemic rages
The number of Americans applying for unemployment benefits fell but remained at a historically high 847,000 last week, a sign that layoffs keep coming as the coronavirus pandemic continues to rage.
Last week’s claims fell by 67,000, from 914,000 the week before, the Labor Department said Thursday. Before the virus hit the United States hard last March, weekly applications for jobless aid had never topped 700,000.
Overall, nearly 4.8 million Americans are continuing to receive traditional state unemployment benefits. That is down from a staggering peak of nearly 25 million in May when the virus — and lockdowns and other measures to contain it — brought economic activity to a near halt. The drop suggests that some of the unemployed are finding new jobs and that others have exhausted state benefits.
The job market remains under strain even though the spread of COVID-19 vaccines offers hope for an end to the health crisis and a return to normal economic life.
Latest US, world numbers
There have been more than 25.59 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 429,000 deaths in the U.S.
Worldwide, there have been more than 100.88 million confirmed cases with more than 2.17 million deaths and 55.91 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.
Johnson County library branches reopen for browsing Thursday
Johnson County residents will once again be able to browse through books in person beginning Thursday.
The buildings will be open from Monday to Thursday 11 a.m. until 7 p.m., and Friday and Saturday from 10 a.m. until 6 p.m. The JCPL-to-Your-Door delivery service and the JCPL-to-Go curbside pickup service will still be available.
If Johnson County returns to orange in both the Weekly 2-Metric Score and the Advisory Level on Feb. 11 as expected, branches will return to their regular hours of operation.
Ohio statewide curfew moving to 11 p.m. beginning Thursday night
Starting Thursday, Ohio's statewide curfew will be in effect from 11 p.m. to 5 a.m. until Feb. 11, which is one hour later than the current curfew.
On Wednesday, Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine announced Ohio Department of Health Director Stephanie McCloud has signed an order to push back the statewide curfew to 11 p.m.
The order comes as the state has seen a seventh straight day of COVID-19 hospitalizations below 3,500.
The restrictions could be eliminated if, over the next few weeks, hospitalization numbers in the state fall below 2,500 over seven days.
The curfew, which started in November and has been extended multiple times, prohibits people from being outside their homes during those hours with multiple exceptions including work, grocery shopping, medical appointments and other necessary trips.
Indiana offering more locations for COVID-19 vaccinations, new ways to register
The state announced Wednesday that it was notified by the federal government that it will receive an additional 13,000 doses per week. That's a 16 percent increase in supply, but less than state leaders had hoped for.
The state hopes to be able to open vaccinations up to Hoosiers 65 and older in the next week. Currently, vaccinations are for those 70 and older in Indiana. The 60 and older age group is suffering 93 percent of Indiana's COVID-19 deaths and two-thirds of hospitalizations.
Around 200 vaccination sites are already up and running across the state. They will soon be joined by select Meijer, Kroger and Walmart store pharmacies.
Walmart will use the state system through ourshot.in.gov and by calling 211. Here are the Walmart locations:
- 735 Whitfield Dr. in Columbus
- 1501 E. 29th St. in Muncie
- 16865 Clover Rd. in Noblesville
- 3167 S. State Rd. 3 in New Castle
- 1133 N. Emerson Rd. in Greenwood
- 2501 Walton Blvd. in Warsaw
- 5780 Franklin St. in Michigan City
- 316 Indian Ridge Blvd. in Mishawaka
- 2347 Veterans Memorial Pkwy S in Lafayette
- 2399 S. State Road 46 in Terre Haute
Kroger will administer vaccines at 45 Indiana pharmacies. At the moment, this service does not apply to all Kroger stores, only to counties suggested by the Indiana Department of Health. The locations around central Indiana are:
- Bartholomew
- 3060 N. National Road in Columbus
- Boone
- 10679 N. Michigan Road in Zionsville
- 5 Boone Village in Zionsville
- 2420 N. Lebanon St. in Lebanon
- Delaware
- Pay Less: 1500 W. McGalliard Road in Muncie
- Pay Less: 715 S. Tillotson Ave. in Muncie
- Hamilton
- 11700 Olio Road in Fishers
- 9799 E. 116th St. in Fishers
- 7272 Fishers Crossing Drive in Fishers
- 172 W. Logan St. in Noblesville
- 1217 S. Rangeline Road in Carmel
- 150 W. 161st St. in Westfield
- 14800 Hazel Dell Crossing in Noblesville
- 17447 Carey Road in Westfield
- Hancock
- 1571 N. State St. in Greenfield
- Henry
- 120 S. Memorial Drive in New Castle
- Howard
- 2821 S. Washington St. in Kokomo
- 605 N. Dixon Road in Kokomo
- Johnson
- 5961 N. SR 135 in Greenwood
- 2200 Independence Drive in Greenwood
- 3100 Meridian Park Drive in Greenwood
- 970 N. Morton St. in Franklin
- Madison
- Pay Less: 1845 N. Scatterfield Road in Anderson
- Pay Less: 1900 Applewood Ct. in Anderson
- Pay Less: 3050 Meridian St. in Anderson
- Monroe
- 528 S. College in Bloomington
- 1825 Kinser Pike in Bloomington
- 4025 S. Old SR 37 in Bloomington
- 500 S. Liberty Drive in Bloomington
- 1175 S. College Mall Road in Bloomington