INDIANAPOLIS — Tuesday's latest updates on the coronavirus pandemic.
Muncie putting on 2 fireworks shows
The City of Muncie will go one with two fireworks shows for Fourth of July weekend.
The first show will be at 10 p.m. on July 4 at Muncie Central High School. It will be synchronized to music played on WLBC 104.1. The second show will be at Prairie Creek Reservoir on July 5.
The city said it would be in line with Stage 5 of Indiana's Back on Track plan. Wearing masks and practicing social distancing is encouraged if residents plan to get out of their cars at the events.
ISDH updated COVID-19 numbers
The Indiana State Department of Health reported on Tuesday that there have been 440 new confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the state. That brings the state's total to 40, 786. Fourteen more Hoosiers have died from the virus, totaling 2,265 deaths.
About 11 percent of people tested for coronavirus in the state have tested positive for the virus.
Any Hoosier seeking COVID-testing can get a test at any OptumServe sites, regardless of whether they are at high risk or have symptoms, according to ISDH. To find testing locations around the state, visit www.coronavirus.in.gov and click on the COVID-19 testing information link. More than 200 locations are available in Indiana.
In addition, ISDH will be offering a free drive-thru testing clinic Wednesday through Saturday at Hudson & Campbell Fitness Center, 455 Massachusetts St., in Gary. The event will run from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. each day.
September Heart Walk to be held virtually
The 29th annual Indianapolis Heart Walk and 5K will now be held virtually on Sept. 12, due to concerns about the coronavirus outbreak.
The American Heart Association said the change will ensure safety for participants who may be at higher risk due to underlying heart issues.
Participants are encouraged to get active at 9 a.m. at home or around the neighborhood. While walking is encouraged, participants can also do other healthy activities like dancing, strength training or fitness circuits at home.
To register, click here. Registered participants will receive more resources and event invitations throughout the summer leading up to the September event.
Carmel Fest announces 4th of July celebration
Carmel Mayor Jim Brainard and Carmel Rotary announced an expanded fireworks display this year to help residents experience a good Fourth of July while social distancing.
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, many community-wide Fourth of July celebrations are being canceled. However in Carmel, residents will enjoy three times the fireworks. The community is offering a fireworks display on the east, west and central sides of town:
- West Park, 2700 W. 116th Street
- Chase Court cul-de-sac, Chase Court is between Range Line Road and Guilford Avenue
- Badger Field, 5459 E. Main Street
The display will last about 20 minutes and start at 9:45 p.m.
First drug proves able to improve survival from COVID-19
Researchers in England say they have the first evidence that a drug can improve COVID-19 survival: A steroid called dexamethasone reduced deaths by up to one-third in severely ill hospitalized patients.
Results were announced Tuesday and researchers said they would publish them soon. The study is a large, strict test that randomly assigned 2,104 patients to get the drug and compared them with 4,321 patients getting only usual care.
The drug was given either orally or through an IV. It reduced deaths by 35% in patients who needed treatment with breathing machines and by 20% in those only needing supplemental oxygen. It did not appear to help less ill patients.
"This is an extremely welcome result," one study leader, Peter Horby of the University of Oxford, said in a statement. "The survival benefit is clear and large in those patients who are sick enough to require oxygen treatment, so dexamethasone should now become standard of care in these patients. Dexamethasone is inexpensive, on the shelf, and can be used immediately to save lives worldwide."
This is the same study that earlier this month showed the malaria drug hydroxychloroquine was not working against the coronavirus. The study enrolled more than 11,000 patients in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland who were given either standard of care or that plus one of several treatments: the HIV combo drug lopinavir-ritonavir, the antibiotic azithromycin; the steroid dexamethasone, the anti-inflammatory drug tocilizumab, or plasma from people who have recovered from COVID-19 that contains antibodies to fight the virus.
Research is continuing on the other treatments. The research is funded by government health agencies in the United Kingdom and private donors including the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.
Latest US, world numbers
There have been 2.11 million confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the U.S. as of 3:30 a.m. ET Tuesday, according to Johns Hopkins University. There have been more than 116,000 deaths and 576,000 people recovered.
Worldwide, there have been 8 million confirmed cases with more than 436,000 deaths and 3.87 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.
Conner Prairie to reopen Tuesday
Conner Prairie will reopen June 16 with some changes.
Tuesdays and Wednesdays will be member-only days, and Thursdays through Sundays will be open to the public.
Most events and learning experiences will now be held outside.
The main building and exhibits will not be open.
You will also see 87 new sanitizing stations, and Conner Prairie will close each day from 1-1:30 p.m. for cleaning.
Tokyo Olympic board member would support another delay
An executive board member of the Tokyo Olympic organizing committee says another delay should be sought if the games can’t be held next year.
The Tokyo Olympics were to be held this year but were postponed because of the coronavirus pandemic. The suggestion comes from Haruyuki Takahashi in an interview published Tuesday in the Japanese sports newspaper Nikkan Sports.
"The main priority is to make a united effort to hold them (Olympics) in the summer of 2021," Takahashi said.
He said if that is not possible "we should start action once again to get another delay."
Estimates in Japan suggest the one-year delay will cost $2 billion to $6 billion, most of which will fall to Japanese taxpayers.
International Olympic Committee President Thomas Bach and local organizing committee President Yoshiro Mori have both ruled out another delay and have said the games will be canceled if they can't open on July 23, 2021.