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Indiana coronavirus updates for Thursday, August 6, 2020

Coronavirus updates from Thursday, Aug. 6.

INDIANAPOLIS — Thursday's latest updates on the coronavirus pandemic.

ISDH update

The state reports 1,051 new COVID-19 cases bringing the state total to 71,015. This is the highest single day report for new cases since the pandemic began in Indiana. The seven-day positivity rate is holding at 7.4 percent.

The state also announced six more deaths from the virus for a total of 2,811.

State superintendent hosts press conference to answer questions about impact of COVID-19 on schools

State Superintendent of Public Instruction Dr. Jennifer McCormick hosted a virtual media briefing Thursday morning to provide an update and answer questions surrounding the impact of COVID-19 on education as schools enter the 2020-2021 school year. 

McCormick answered questions submitted from media outlets for more than hour.   

Topics covered included contact tracing of positive COVID-19 cases in schools, thresholds for when districts would decide to transition from in-class instruction to virtual instruction and the limits on required testing imposed by the legislature and federal guidelines.

McCormick said teachers anxiety was an issue this year. Personal protection equipment (PPE) and early retirement were frequent issues that have come up.

Education

LIVE NOW: Superintendent of Public Instruction Dr. Jennifer McCormick is hosting a media briefing about the impact of COVID-19 as schools resume their new year.

Posted by WTHR-TV on Thursday, August 6, 2020

1.2 million seek unemployment after $600 federal check ends

Nearly 1.2 million laid-off Americans applied for state unemployment benefits last week, evidence that the coronavirus keeps forcing companies to slash jobs just as a critical $600 weekly federal jobless payment has expired.

The Labor Department’s report Thursday marked the 20th straight week that at least 1 million people have sought jobless aid. Before the pandemic hit hard in March, the number of Americans seeking unemployment checks had never surpassed 700,000 in a week, not even during the Great Recession of 2007-2009.

The new jobless claims were down by 249,000 from the previous week after rising for two straight weeks.

Marion County public health order on guidance for schools goes into effect Thursday

Last week, Indianapolis Mayor Joe Hogsett provided guidance on reopening schools in Marion County during the coronavirus pandemic. 

The new public health order goes into effect Thursday, Aug. 6. Here is a list of what it includes:

  • Middle and high schools with fewer than 400 students may resume in-person classes if 6-foot social distancing can be achieved in classrooms; otherwise, schools must be operated online or in a hybrid model.
  • Middle and high schools with more than 400 students must be operated virtually or in a hybrid model.
  • K-5 schools may resume in-person classes.
  • Schools with K-5 and above in a single building that can maintain 6-foot distancing may resume in-person; otherwise, grades 6 or higher must remain online or move to a hybrid model.
  • Masks must be worn by students in grades 3 and above at all times, except when eating and drinking. Students ages 3 and older must wear masks when indoors or not socially-distanced.
  • Schools conducting all in-person or hybrid classes must implement social distancing procedures, such as staggering passing periods, implementing permanent seating charts in classrooms and organizing students in classroom cohorts.
  • Athletic teams are asked to follow current IHSAA guidelines, with further guidance expected in the coming weeks.

Gleaners Food Bank of Indiana, Anthem hosting healthy food distribution Thursday

Gleaners Food Bank of Indiana and Anthem are teaming up to host an initiative called "No One Runs on Empty," which focuses on healthy, nutritious food for those most in need. 

The campaign has a goal of providing 10 million meals. 

The drive-thru food distribution will be held in the parking lot of Anthem's headquarters downtown at 220 Virginia Ave. Thursday, Aug. 6 from 10 a.m.-2 p.m.

This will be a no-contact event, featuring fresh fruits, vegetables, meat and dairy items. 

Dozens of Anthem associates, along with members of the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department, will volunteer at the mobile distribution to showcase this community effort to address food insecurity. 

Nearly 1 million Hoosiers — including middle-class families, the working poor, children and the elderly — cannot easily obtain nutritious food. That's 1 in 7 Indiana residents. Estimates regarding the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic indicate that number is now much higher with 1 in 5 Hoosiers facing food insecurity.

Latest US, world numbers

There have been 4.82 million confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the U.S. as of 3:30 a.m. ET Thursday, according to Johns Hopkins University. There have been more than 158,000 deaths and 1.57 million people recovered.

Worldwide, there have been 18.81 million confirmed cases with more than 707,000 deaths and 11.36 million recoveries.

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

RELATED: Rural communities prepare for a second wave of COVID-19

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.

NCAA Presidents cancel DII and DIII fall championships

The NCAA Division II’s seven fall 2020 championships are canceled, the Division II Presidents Council decided Wednesday "due to the operational, logistical and financial challenges presented by the COVID-19 pandemic."

They made the move after the NCAA Board of Governors directed each division to make a decision on its fall sport championships. 

Presidents of Division III also decided to cancel championships for fall sports.

The Board of Governors directed each division to make a decision on its fall sport championships. It also agreed to require all members institutions to apply the resocialization principles to fall sports and set a 50% sponsorship threshold for a fall sport championship to be conducted. 

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