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Gov. Holcomb's address starting soon- it is all virtual, reporters are there via Zoom (or something similar). I'll post updates in this thread!
Dr. Box is in person and Gov. Holcomb is calling in via phone due to quarantine. He is thanking the state police assigned to his protective detail as some have tested positive.
He is not taking a test until the end of the week to reduce the risk of a false negative at the advice of Dr. Box. He's also hoping that next week's update will be by video.
Sunday's executive order is still in place. He's particularly concerned about the rising hospitalization numbers.
He's parroting the same safety protocols we've been told since March- wash hands, social distancing, masks. He was on a call about vaccines yesterday with other governors nationally.
Indianapolis is still supposed to host the NCAA tournament- he indicates that this is evidence that things are getting better.
Time for Dr. Box
Okay, now we're explaining the Governor's experience with contact tracing and that they are advising people to get tested. She says this is a reminder that COVID can infect "anyone, anywhere, anytime".
She says despite a mask mandate since July, people are not following protocols. 21 counties are now in red based on the spread rate. Our entire state is in red based on cases per 100,000 people.
Deaths are also increasing in both 75+ and 18-30 age groups. She is concerned about spread over the holiday break. She has reached out to IN Universities to provide rapid tests for students before they leave campus.
She is advising college students to act as they have covid and quarantine for 14 days symptom-free.
DoH and Bowen Center created jobs for students to do remotely but the http://bit.ly link they provided didn't work when I typed it in... more on that later.
The only Thanksgiving recommendations they are giving are the same things we've been hearing since March- hand sanitizer/hand washing, masks, ventilation, don't visit long term care facilities.
Dr. Box is letting us know she did not invite her brother over for Thanksgiving.
Time for Dr. Weaver!
They expect to see the Pfizer vaccine to be in Indiana first which could be as soon as 48 hours after FDA approval. 50 hospitals are prepared to receive the vaccine- including Parkview in FW.
She is stressing that while the vaccine has not been rushed, it has not been tested on children under 18 so children will not be eligible in the first round.
Dr. Fish from Schneck (?) Medical Group- a rural medicine representative. He is speaking on the continued shortages of PPE and other supplies. The last 2 days they have not been able to accept new patients based on space limitations.
His video connection is poor so it's a little hard for me to follow. The gist so far has been staffing shortages and members of other departments (non-medical) have been deployed to patient care
