INDIANA, USA — This is a weekly blog with daily updates on COVID-19 numbers, COVID vaccine and other related content across Indiana for the week of March 29, 2021. Governor Eric Holcomb does a live briefing at 2:30 p.m. on Wednesdays.
Indiana's mask mandate will expire statewide on Tuesday, April 6. Gov. Holcomb made the announcement last week.
Sunday, April 4
The Indiana State Department of Health reports 952 new positive cases and no new deaths from COVID-19. Indiana has recorded a total of 690,910 positive cases and 12,667 confirmed deaths.
More than 1.2 million Hoosiers are now fully vaccinated. As of 5 a.m. Sunday, 1,241,513 individuals were fully vaccinated — 18,435 of those were newly reported.
More than 1.7 million Hoosiers have received at least their first shot of either the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines, while more than 1.1 million have received both. More than 89,000 Hoosiers have received the single-shot Johnson & Johnson vaccine.
Saturday, April 3
The Indiana State Department of Health reports 1,159 new positive cases and 5 more deaths from COVID-19. Indiana has recorded a total of 689,965 positive cases and 12,667 confirmed deaths.
More than 1.2 million Hoosiers are now fully vaccinated. As of 5 a.m. Saturday, 1,223,058 individuals were fully vaccinated — 25,869 of those were newly reported.
More than 1.7 million Hoosiers have received at least their first shot of either the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines, while more than 1.1 million have received both. More than 81,000 Hoosiers have received the single-shot Johnson & Johnson vaccine.
Friday, April 2
The Indiana State Department of Health reports 1,256 more positive cases and 20 additional deaths from COVID-19.
Since the pandemic, Indiana has recorded a total of 688,916 positive cases and 12,662 confirmed deaths.
More than 1.7 million Hoosiers have received at least their first shot of either the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines, while more than 1.1 million have received both. More than 72,000 Hoosiers have received the single-shot Johnson & Johnson vaccine.
Add travel to the activities vaccinated Americans can enjoy again, according to new U.S. guidance issued Friday. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention updated its guidance to say fully vaccinated people can travel within the U.S. without getting tested for the coronavirus or going into quarantine afterward.
Thursday, April 1
Health officials report 1,240 new COVID-19 cases recorded. Since the pandemic began, Indiana has had 687,713 confirmed cases of COVID-19.
The state also reported nine new deaths. That brings the death toll in Indiana to 12,642.
The state reports 28,000 more Hoosiers are fully vaccinated. That brings the total of those fully vaccinated to 1,162,464.
Gov. Holcomb said on Wednesday, he will lift Indiana's statewide mask mandate on April 6, changing it to a mask advisory. Despite the change, state health officials advise residents to continue wearing masks in addition to social distancing and other preventative measures.
He also responded to Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear's concern about changing the mandate.
Pfizer says its COVID-19 vaccine protection lasts at least 6 months
Pfizer and BioNtech on Thursday announced its COVID-19 vaccine is 91% effective for up to at least six months after getting a second dose, citing updated trial data.
Pfizer's chairman and CEO Albert Bourla said that the recent data "confirm the favorable efficacy and safety profile of our vaccine" and can permit the company to apply for full approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Currently, the vaccine only has Emergency Authorization Use, which was issued in December of 2020.
The company said its newest data confirms that the mRNA vaccine is 95.3% effective against severe COVID-19 as defined by the FDA and 100% effective against what the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention defines as severe disease.
Wednesday, March 31
Hoosiers 16 years old and up are now eligible for the COVID-19 vaccine. People who are under the age of 18 must get parental permission to get the vaccine and are required to sign up for the Pfizer vaccine because that is the only vaccine approved for anyone under 18 years old right now.
According to the Indiana State Department of Health, the state administered 53,761 doses of the vaccine over the last day, resulting in 24,789 newly fully vaccinated people in Indiana.
The ISDH reported 1,127 new cases of COVID-19 and one more death Wednesday. The department said there have been a total of 686,497 positive cases of the virus and 12,633 deaths in the Hoosier state.
Dr. Box encouraged Hoosiers to remain vigilant and said variants of COVID-19 are "picking up steam." Cases of at least four variants have been detected in the state.
Tuesday, March 30
More than 1.1 million Hoosiers are fully vaccinated, per the Indiana State Department of Health.
Hoosiers 30 and older, health care workers, long-term care residents, first responders who are regularly called to the scene of an emergency, educators and school support staff through grade 12 are now eligible to receive a COVID-19 vaccine. Beginning Wednesday morning, Hoosiers age 16 and older will be eligible to schedule a vaccination appointment.
There state also reported on Tuesday that there were 757 new cases and 10 deaths from COVID-19. Indiana's death toll from COVID-19 now stands at 12,632.
Monday, March 29
The state is reporting 5,441 more people are fully vaccinated. There are 730 new COVID-19 cases and five deaths reported Monday.
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ISDH is reporting a total of 2,865,575 COVID-19 vaccine doses had been administered in Indiana as of Sunday, March 28. This includes 1,602,873 first doses and 1,082,702 individuals who are fully vaccinated.
The fully vaccinated number represents individuals who have received a second dose of either the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines plus those who received the single Johnson & Johnson vaccine.
To schedule a vaccine, visit https://ourshot.in.gov or call 211 if you do not have access to a computer or require assistance.