Indianapolis, IN (October 31, 2020) - Governor Eric Holcomb signed an executive order Friday extending Indiana's public health emergency due to the COVID-19 pandemic until at least December 1, 2020.
So far, this is the eighth extension of the coronavirus emergency initially declared by Indiana's chief executive March 6, 2020 after the first COVID-19 case was confirmed in Indiana.
A state law enacted in the aftermath of the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks entitles vast authority on the governor when he determines the state has been struck by one or more of 30 potential disasters, including a "public health emergency."
The governor is authorized during a disaster to "employ any measure and give any direction" in accordance with the recommendations of the State Department of Health or local boards of health, both of which have a statutory obligation to "do what is reasonable and necessary for the prevention and suppression of disease."
Governor Holcomb's directive for residents to wear face masks in public places is among the powers derived from his emergency declaration is one example.
Indianapolis, IN (October 20, 2020) - The Indianapolis Public Library’s East Washington and Southport Branches are closed to the public Tuesday, October 20, after a staff member who had worked in both locations recently learned that they had been exposed to a family member with Covid-19.
Both branches will remain closed through October 20 for deep cleaning, and both are tentatively planned to reopen to the public on Wednesday, October 21.
The employee and any fellow staff with whom they had close contact (defined as within six feet for ten or more minutes) are under a 10-day quarantine. Patrons who visited the East Washington or Southport Branch Library on or around October 17-19 are encouraged to self-monitor for any symptoms.
ALERT: The East Washington Branch and Southport Branch are both temporarily closed due to a staff member being exposed to COVID-19. For more information, please visit https://t.co/XZXWvEAihp
All Indianapolis Public Libraries have had a face mask requirement in place since reopening in June. Other precautions include capacity limits at libraries, one-hour time limits for patrons when necessitated by building capacity limits, accessible hand sanitizer, regular surface cleaning, and 96 hour quarantining of returned books and other library materials.
“Library administration hopes to utilize staff from other locations to continue to serve the East Washington and Southport patrons immediately after a deep clean,” said Jackie Nytes, Library CEO. “Nimble scheduling for an issue like this is a necessity, as we understand that The Library is essential for residents who need access to information, materials, wi-fi, and computers – and we aim to fulfill our mission of providing access to these services as safely as possible.”
Visit The Indianapolis Public Library's website or follow The Indianapolis Public Library on social media for the latest on this situation, and for any future incidents of potential COVID-19 exposure at libraries.
Marion County, IN (September 25, 2020) - Today, Indianapolis Mayor Joe Hogsett and Dr. Virginia Caine, Director of the Marion County Public Health Department provided an update of Marion County restrictions on various activities and current COVID-19 data.
One restriction that won't ease up is the current requirement that taverns, nightclubs and restaurants all close at midnight.
Starting on Monday, September 28, the following changes go into place:
Restaurants, taverns, nightclubs and food establishments can have up to 50 percent indoor capacity and 100 percent outdoor capacity.
Restaurants and taverns will continue to be closed at midnight.
Museum, cultural sites, music venues and other similar businesses are now able to open to 50 percent capacity.
Gyms, fitness centers and similar businesses can also expand to 50 percent capacity.
Live entertainment can resume at taverns, clubs and performance venues with certain social distancing precautions in place. A 10-foot buffer should be maintained between the stage and audiences, as well as audiences social distancing themselves.
Assisted living facilities may be open to indoor visitation.
Funeral homes and churches can have indoor services at 75 percent capacity.
Outdoor services can operate at 100 percent capacity.
Mayor Hogsett said the seven-day moving average rate for all tests has fallen from 5.6 percent at the beginning of the month to 4.8 percent as of Thursday, Sept. 24.
Garden City, MI (September 24, 2020) - Woodworker Matt Thompson of Thompson Woodworks constructed a delightful contraption to help keep the trick-or-treat dream alive for his town. He built a social-distancing safe zip-line so he can hand out candy to kids who come by.
He used a cable and some pulleys to create a line that runs from his porch to a decorated pole near the sidewalk. That way kids can safely take some candy from the attached ghost without having to get close to the house.
But the best part is that this is not just a candy delivery service. It also includes a beer caddy so Thompson can send out some grownup treats too. He hauls it back in with a fishing reel, in a system we’d like to see used on every holiday.
This isn’t the first device someone has come up with to make Halloween 2020 possible. The Wicked Makers YouTube channel released a video for a DIY candy tube.
It’s been a long year, and no matter your age we can all use some treats this Halloween.
Indianapolis, IN (September 24, 2020) - Indiana's six-month effort to combat the coronavirus by restricting personal liberties and business operations is coming to a close.
Gov. Eric Holcomb announced Wednesday he will sign an executive order moving the state to Stage 5 of his five-stage Back on Track reopening plan for at least a three-week period.
At Stage 5, all businesses may reopen to full capacity, including restaurants, bars and nightclubs; gyms, entertainment and cultural destinations may operate at 100% capacity; and there no longer are any attendance limits at sporting events, conventions or community gatherings — absent more stringent local or industry requirements.
The governor still is directing Hoosiers to wear masks, or another face covering, when they are unable to maintain at least 6 feet of distance from other people in public places, and businesses can continue requiring every person entering their premises to wear a face mask.
In fact, Holcomb credited voluntary Hoosier compliance with his July 24 mask order for making it possible for Indiana to fully reopen ahead of its neighboring states.
"I know no one wants to wear a face mask. I mean, this is different, especially for Americans and Hoosiers. I get it. It's not my preference either," Holcomb said. "But it's not my preference that the pandemic is on top of us either and follows us around."
"And while our numbers are tracking in the right direction, enabling us to further open up, it's because of this,” Holcomb said while holding up a cloth face mask during his weekly COVID-19 press conference in his Statehouse office.
According to the State Department of Health, Indiana is conducting approximately 15,000 COVID-19 tests per day, with a seven-day positivity rate of just 3.9%.
Data show hospitals have sufficient capacity to treat COVID-19 infections and a force of contact tracers is alerting Hoosiers who have been in close proximity to anyone confirmed to have the coronavirus.
"We have been very Steady Eddie, very methodical, about this. Very data driven. And that's how we'll continue to be," Holcomb said.
At the same time, Holcomb is encouraging Hoosiers to continue doing their part to minimize the potential spread of the virus by wearing masks, regularly washing their hands and routinely cleaning frequently touched surfaces.
He's also asking restaurants and bars to ensure all their customers are seated, and not standing, as well as continuing to follow social distancing practices, even if it means operating at slightly less than full capacity.
"We like the path that we're on, the direction that we're moving," Holcomb said. "But we really have to just underscore how important it is for our citizens and our businesses to continue to make those adjustments and operate in a very safe manner."
"It has a huge impact beyond your personal space."
The governor's order does not immediately change the capacity and spacing restrictions aimed at preventing the spread of COVID-19 in Indiana's 13 casinos.
Sara Tait, executive director of the Indiana Gaming Commission, said her agency will review Holcomb's forthcoming executive order and listen to gaming industry leaders on how they propose moving forward with steps like reopening poker rooms, given the governor's recommendation that businesses continue promoting social distancing in their operations.
The governor's Stage 5 announcement came exactly six months to the day of his unprecedented March 23 executive order commanding Hoosiers to stay home, except for "essential" purchases and employment, following the initial spread of COVID-19 in Indiana.
Dr. Woody Myers, the Democratic candidate for governor, said it's wrong for Holcomb to take Indiana to Stage 5 when the state needs "more vigilance, not less."
"It was only recently that Indiana had the highest one day total of cases reported since the beginning of the pandemic. With the arrival of autumn, public health experts are warning we can soon expect a significant increase of new COVID-19 cases," Myers said.
"The pandemic isn't going away anytime soon — Gov. Holcomb's decision today is simply wrong."
Washington, D.C. (September 15, 2020) - Amtrak President William Flynn has told members of Congress that the company needs a $4.9 billion appropriation for fiscal 2021 to avoid employee furloughs and reduced long-distance train frequencies planned for October.
Flynn, Rail Passengers Association President and CEO Jim Mathews, and labor officials representing the Transport Workers Union and Transportation Communications Union testified Tuesday at the U.S. House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee’s Rail Subcommittee hearing titled, “Amtrak’s response to COVID-19.”
Amtrak CEO William Flynn testifies during Wednesday's online House hearing on Amtrak's response to COVID-19.
Amtrak declined to provide the figure needed to avoid the job and service cuts to Capitol Hill staffers until late last week, despite requests from elected officials in June [see “Senators seek more details on Amtrak service, job cuts,” Trains News Wire June 29, 2020.
That drew sharp criticism in the opening statement from subcommittee chairman Dan Lipinski (D-Ill.) for “just now submitting their amended FY21 supplemental request to Congress less than one month before the current fiscal year expires and Amtrak plans to implement these furloughs.”
If Senate and House conferees don’t come up with the $4.9 billion (which includes the $2 billion Amtrak originally asked for in its annual Grant and Legislative Request in February), Flynn told Lipinski that with a “cash burn at nearly $250 million a month right now, we would have to make very dramatic reductions across the company to stave off bankruptcy.” He added that this would include “substantial reduction in all services and perhaps some elimination of some long-distance services if that’s the cash burn we’re having with no supplemental funding.”
In questioning from U.S. Rep. Brian Babin (R-Texas), Flynn repeated management’s previous assertions that in fiscal 2019, “we were generating a surplus on our Northeast Corridor — essentially a break-even level of operation in our state-supported network, but the operational subsidy fundamentally underpins the long-distance services. So the vast majority, if not all, of that subsidy, if we were to do it on a service line basis, would be on the long-distance service.”
Rail Passengers Association President and CEO Jim Mathews pushed back against Flynn and the assertion by Babin and four other GOP lawmakers that Amtrak is required to make a profit.
“It is not — it is only required to minimize subsidies,” Mathews said. “A conversation about (Amtrak) profit ignores the benefit that communities receive.” In his opening statement, he unveiled research that quantifies by long-distance route exactly what those benefits are.
The document lists the direct and indirect economic impact of daily service, and the negative effects when four of seven weekly departures are eliminated.
The model, developed by the Rail Passengers Association with the help of Transportation 4 America, contends that the cuts will result in a “$2 billion bomb on ‘Flyover Country.’” It is available here.
Other revealing exchanges during the session:
— Rep. Scott Perry (R-Pa.) raised concerns about aspects of Amtrak’s accounting methodology, such as considering taxpayer-funded state payments as revenue and not including depreciation in operating results.
— Flynn said that there were no plans to furlough any employees at the Beech Grove Heavy Maintenance Facility, and in fact Amtrak had to hire essential workers after some employees decided to take the company-wide buyout offer.
— Acela lead service attendant Amy Griffin, who testified as Local 1460 president of the Transport Workers Union of America, recounted a July incident in which she had been ordered to continue working after a co-worker tested positive for COVID-19. She eventually was told to quarantine, but then was ordered back to work after 10 instead of 14 days by Amtrak’s medical staff because she showed no symptoms
— Flynn was criticized by several lawmakers for reinstating a 401K retirement plan company match for management beginning Oct. 1 at the same time it counted on receiving bailout money and was laying off 2,000 employees. He defended the decision because it helped the company retain personnel and would not agree to reverse it, but did say Amtrak would withdraw a communications Request For Proposal that allowed outsourced bidders to shift jobs offshore.
--Near the end of session, Rep. Stephen Lynch (D-Mass.) told Flynn, “I fully support using money you make on the north end of the Northeast Corridor to provide service to some of those rural areas — the ‘red’ states. Those lines don’t necessarily benefit my district but they benefit the country. … I hope you take very seriously the credibility that you will lose by engaging in these furloughs, and the representational damage that comes to Amtrak management. I’m asking you to reconsider that [because] it is not going to save the day.” Cutting 2000 employees, Lynch said, “is going to reduce service and spiral that bottom-line deficit. You’re going to lose the faith of members of Congress like me, who are behind you, because of this decision.”
Video of the entire 2 1/2 -hour hearing and links to the witnesses’ prepared testimony is below.
Amtrak’s Response to COVID-19
Subcommittee: Railroads, Pipelines, and Hazardous Materials
Date: Wednesday, September 9, 2020
Time: 11:00 AM
Beech Grove, IN (September 12, 2020) - Don’t look for any pumpkin stuffed marshmallows this Halloween, or green trees at Christmas time.
Although Peeps traditionally releases seasonally-shaped marshmallow treats for Halloween and Christmas, due to the coronavirus pandemic, that won’t be possible this year.
Just Born, the family-owned candy manufacturer behind Peeps, Mike and Ikes and Hot Tamales, confirmed that the festive seasonal releases “will not be in stores again until 2021.”
“While PEEPS® Marshmallow Candies, MIKE AND IKE® and HOT TAMALES® would typically be available in fun shapes and packaging sizes for the Halloween and holiday seasons, unfortunately, the seasonal varieties will not be in stores again until 2021,” the company said in a statement.
Due to coronavirus concerns, the company “temporarily suspended production” earlier this year, and “resumed limited production” in May “after making extensive changes in our plant that ensure the safety of our associates.”
Beech Grove, IN (August 12, 2020) - Purdue University and LED lighting manufacturer Energy Harness have announced a ceiling-mounted ultraviolet (UV) system called Active-Airflow that is intended to deactivate pathogens including the novel coronavirus. Energy Harness intends to have systems available for two Central Indiana school districts before classes restart.
The integration of UV-C sources in air-circulation systems has great promise, especially given the growing knowledge about the dangers of airborne spread of the coronavirus. One obvious possibility is installing UV-C systems in HVAC equipment, and Utility TVA is offering incentives for customers that install such systems. The Energy Harness approach is independent of the HVAC system, but still uses active air handling to draw room air into the unit.
“We have demonstrated and studies have shown the effectiveness of UV-C light in killing the COVID-2 family of pathogens,” said Patricio M. Daneri, managing director of Energy Harness’ Midwest division. “Our Active-Airflow unit provides the added advantage of safe usage during the school day in occupied classrooms. The unit has a fan system to draw in the air, where it is cleaned and then cycled back into the room.”
The LEDs in the unit radiate in the 260–280-nm range — wavelengths known to have germicidal efficacy. Ultimately, germicidal efficacy is based on UV-C dosage, which is a function of UV-C power per area multiplied by exposure time. So in this instance, the key factors would be the radiometric output of the UV-C LEDs (168W) and the airflow (116 CFM).
The company states the UV dosage to be 12,000 to 18,000. Energy Harness said that each unit can disinfect a 256-ft2 space. That would typically mean multiple units in each classroom in a school setting.
Beech Grove City Schools Install System
Beech Grove City Schools will have 15 units scattered
throughout its five buildings—in the nurses’ stations and
select classrooms, Director of Operations Tom Gearhart
said. Beech Grove had worked with Energy Harness to replace its fluorescent lights in classrooms and hallways
“and have been very satisfied with them as an
organization.” So when Daneri told district officials about
the UV-C fixture, they were interested.
The Active-Airflow system is being installed in schools that are part of the Beech Grove City Schools and Franklin Township Community Schools districts in Indiana. “We have had success working with the Energy Harness team before and are excited about this new technology product to help keep our community safe,” said Tom Gearhart, director of operations for the Beech Grove City Schools.
Marion County, IN (July 23, 2020) - Indianapolis Mayor Hogsett announced new COVID-19 restrictions for Marion County today. The new changes will go into effect tomorrow, July 24.
Masks will remain mandatory. They must be worn in a way that covers the nose and mouth.
Social gatherings cannot exceed 50 individuals, other than religious ceremonies.
Indoor religious ceremonies can operate up to 50% capacity. Outdoor services can continue without restrictions.
Bars and nightclubs that do not serve food will close through at least August 12.
Restaurants will operate at 50% capacity, and all restaurants must close between midnight and 5 a.m.
Personal services such as hair salons and tattoo parlors will be by appointment only.
For K-12 schools, in-person instruction can not begin until August 5.
Gyms will operate at 25% capacity.
No travel restrictions are being made at this time, but travel to states with high virus rates should consider quarantining for 14 days upon returning, the mayor said.
The positive rate in Marion County jumped by 50%. Hogsett said, “Without a response, that trajectory will undo all the hard work we’ve done, have put in, over the past four months.”
Transmission of the coronavirus most often occurred indoors for social occasions, especially the age group 20-30 in gyms, bars and other venues, the mayor said, citing research.
Indianapolis, IN (July 22, 2020) - Indiana Gov. Eric Holcomb announced that face masks would be mandatory throughout the state during today's press conference.
Starting July 27, anyone over the age of 8 will be required to wear a face mask in indoor public spaces, commercial entities, transportation services or any outside public spaces where social distancing is not possible.
"The simple act of covering our faces, as odd as it may feel, can help us prevent the transmission of the virus, which is why this is the next prudent step that we as a state need to take," Holcomb said.
In school, masks will be required for any children in third grade or older, as well as faculty, staff, volunteers and anyone else in the school. Masks will also be required for co-curricular and extracurricular activities that do not involve strenuous physical activity.
While not required, it is recommended that children ages 2 to 7 wear a mask as well. While not wearing a mask is considered a Class B misdemeanor, Holcomb said enforcement will not be strict. "Please know that the mask police will not be patrolling Indiana streets," Holcomb said.
Exemptions will be made for the following:
Medical purposes
Strenuous physical activity
Eating and drinking
“I know not everyone will be supportive of this mandate. Compliance and enforcement are always in question. Our approach, if you recall, since Day 1, since the very beginning of this pandemic, has an approach of education, of appealing to one’s civic duty and public good. You might even say public pride and being part of the solution. And it will continue to be.”
Indiana’s mask mandate comes after the neighboring states of Illinois, Michigan and Kentucky begun such mandates. Ohio’s mask mandate begins at 6 p.m. Thursday.
Beech Grove, IN (July 22, 2020) - Due to the coronavirus pandemic, several businesses have begun to require every customer to wear a mask or some type of face covering before entering their establishment, regardless of whether or not it is required by that county, city or state.
Nearly 40 states now require masks in public places, with Alabama, Arkansas and Colorado adding mandates and Ohio requiring masks in a dozen counties. Individual businesses can choose to institute further restrictions, and the National Retail Federation is encouraging retailers to set nationwide mask policies to protect shoppers and employees.
Here is a list of businesses that have announced that customers at all of their locations nationwide will be required to wear masks or some type of face coverings before entering.
Indianapolis, IN (July 16, 2020) — Walmart is changing up how you pay your bill. You can still use cash, but Walmart is asking customers to pay with credit or debit cards when possible. Here's a statement from Walmart Spokesperson Avani Dudhia:
“Like most retailers, we’re experiencing the affects of the nation-wide coin shortage,” spokesperson Avani Dudhia said. “We’re asking customers to pay with card or use correct change when possible if they need to pay with cash.”
Some self-checkout registers have been converted to card-only registers. Dudhia added that some stores have been moving registers to card-only on an as-needed basis.
The coin shortage was caused due to a supply chain disruption since the start of the coronavirus pandemic, government officials have explained.
This coin shortage won’t last forever. The Walmart spokesperson says their issues won’t either. But in the meantime, you’re being asked to “charge it”.
Indianapolis, IN (May 19, 2020) BGI - Gen Con, one of the largest conventions in Indianapolis and the largest table top gaming convention in North America is cancelled. Gen Con announced that due to ongoing concerns stemming from the spread of COVID-19, Gen Con 2020 and all Pop-Up Gen Con events for this year are cancelled.
Despite being one of the most popular and successful gaming conventions, the organizers reminded their audience that they are still a small business, and the decision to cancel is very difficult, both “emotionally and financially.”
For attendees who pre-purchased badges for Gen Con 2020, organizers ask that rather than requesting a refund, they instead allow this year’s badge to be applied to Gen Con 2021 instead, as a means to “keep staff employed through these unprecedented times and come back better than ever next year.”
It is with a heavy heart that we must announce the cancellation of Gen Con 2020. The safety of our attendees, exhibitors & staff are of the utmost importance to us & we cannot in good conscience host a large gathering while doing so could threaten the health of so many. 🧵
As a way to still connect with their audience during quarantine, Gen Con organizers have also announced they will be hosting Gen Con Online – a “virtual convention featuring a slate of events and programming you can attend from the safety of your devices” at home. The event is slated to take place July 30 – August 2, the dates in which the original convention would have taken place.
Gen Con will return to the Indiana Convention Center Aug. 5-8, 2021. Read the original article from Gen Con. Badge holders for 2020 have the option of rolling their badges forward for 2021. For more details go to their website.
Beech Grove, IN (April 29, 2020) - Indiana National Guard announced Wednesday that the flyover in Indianapolis has been rescheduled due to weather. The flyover was originally scheduled for Thursday at 10:45 a.m.
A-10C THUNDERBOLT II AIRCRAFT - courtesy 122nd Fighter Wing Indiana National Guard on Facebook. Staff Sgt. William Hopper
However, due to the forecast, the flyover was postponed and moved to Saturday, May 2. Now, four A-10 Warthogs will fly over Indianapolis, as well as Terre Haute, Muncie, Lawrence, and Franklin Indiana.
11:35 a.m. – Terre Haute, IN downtown
11:50 a.m. – Johnson Armory, near Franklin, IN
11:55 a.m. – Community hospital, 1500 N Ritter Ave. Indianapolis, IN 46219
11:57 a.m. – St. Vincent hospital, 13500 US Highway 31 N, Carmel, IN 46032
12:00 p.m. – VA/IU hospital, 550 University Blvd. Indianapolis, IN 46202
12:02 p.m. – Lawrence Armory, near Lawrence, IN
12:05 p.m. – Anderson, IN downtown
12:08 p.m. – Muncie, IN downtown
12:15 p.m. – Marion VA hospital, 1700 E 38th St. Marion, IN 46953
All times are subject to change. Air Force Salutes flyovers are a way for the Air National Guard to show appreciation to the thousands of heroes at the front line of battling COVID-19.
Flight Pattern
The flyovers are also intended to lift morale in cities across America due to the severe health and economic impacts that have resulted from COVID-19.
The Indiana National Guard said these flyovers are incorporated with previously scheduled training missions.
Indianapolis, IN (March 29, 2020) - The United States highest doctor called Indianapolis an “emerging hotspot” on his recent twitter post.
U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Jerome Adams posted the statement saying in part, “We must now focus on flattening the curve and raising the bar in emerging hotspots like New Orleans, Chicago, Detroit, LA, Miami, and Indianapolis.”
According to Indiana State Health Department, nearly 8,500 Hoosiers have been tested for coronavirus. At 9:30 a.m. today, 1,232 positive cases have been identified in the state, so far.
7/n We must now focus on flattening the curve AND raising the bar in emerging hotspots like New Orleans, Chicago, Detroit, LA, Miami, and Indianapolis.
We have the playbook, - but we must all increasingly run the plays faster and better as #COVID19 spreads the field.
Gov. Eric Holcomb ordered all Indiana residents to hunker down last week with a two-week shelter-in-place order as state health officials continue to provide daily updates on COVID-19 cases in Indiana.
Dr. Jerome Adams said it was difficult to say if the worst is yet to come for the U.S. as the spread of virus is different in each area of the country and "everyone's curve is going to look different."
Despite the warnings, Adams said there is some good news as there has been an increase of testing for COVID-19 in the country.
"We're approaching a million tests. We're trying to give people the data so that they can make informed decisions about where they are on their timeline and what they should be doing."
