Indiana audit finds 1,500 additional COVID-19 deaths
INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — More than 1,500 coronavirus deaths will be added to the Indiana State Department of Health’s dashboard on Thursday.
The announcement was made Wednesday during Gov. Eric Holcomb’s weekly virtual briefing. An audit of COVID-19 deaths, done in a push for more accuracy by the state, found the added fatalities.
The state health department on Wednesday reported the statewide death toll stands at more than 9,700. The number of new positive cases Wednesday came in at nearly 1,500, and the number of people hospitalized with the virus is 1,582.
Here are other announcement’s from the governor’s briefing:
ISDH changes classroom quarantine, contact tracing protocols
State health officials on Wednesday announced changes to classroom quarantine protocols that will go into effect on Monday.
The announcement was made during Gov. Eric Holcomb’s weekly virtual press conference.
Indiana State Department of Health Commissioner Dr. Kristina Box said, effective Monday, ISDH will no longer require quarantine or contact tracing if students and teachers remain at least 3 feet apart and wear a mask at all times while in the classroom.
These quarantine changes do not apply to exposures that happen during lunch, athletics, band, or other school settings.
Box said some schools had only been able to separate students by 3 to 4 feet, but the data shows the reduced spacing has not resulted in increased cases.
Box also cited the ongoing burden a 14-day quarantine has had on schools, students and families as a reason for a change in the quarantine and distancing rules inside the classroom.
State health officials also announced more than 1 million KN95 masks will be sent to schools throughout Indiana. The number will be enough to provide teachers, administrators and staff members with 10 masks each.
Box said 600,000 additional masks will be sent to schoolchildren in kindergarten through 6th grade.
State to run ad on virus impact during Super Bowl
The state health department produced a commercial about the virus that will air during the Super Bowl. The state paid more than $100,000 to run the ad, which talks about how an Indianapolis family was impacted by the death of a loved one due to the virus.
Holcomb says he hopes it makes an impact on how people feel about the virus and the importance of getting the vaccine.
Teacher priority for vaccinations
Keith Gambill, the president of the Indiana State Teachers Association, has expressed some frustration that state health officials have not announced the exact order for when teachers will be eligible to get the vaccine, regardless of their age.
“We’ve tried to be patient as Indiana said we need to get the most vulnerable vaccinated right away,” Gambill said. “But as we continue to move on, we need to know and understand,what is their plan for getting this fixed for our schools.”
Meanwhile health officials said they are making decisions to limit hospitalizations and deaths. They said 94% of Hoosier COVID-19 deaths have been in people older than 60 years old, along with 64% of hospitalizations.
“I value every single life in this state, regardless of your profession,” Gov. Holcomb said.
“As long as vaccine remains limited, we will continue to prioritize individuals who are most likely to be hospitalized or die because of COVID-19,” added Dr. Box.