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Indiana coronavirus updates: South Africa in new surge of COVID from versions of omicron

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Indiana coronavirus updates: South Africa in new surge of COVID from versions of omicron


The newest updates on the coronavirus pandemic for Monday, Could 16, 2022.

INDIANAPOLIS — Listed below are Monday’s newest updates on the coronavirus pandemic, together with the most recent information on COVID-19 vaccinations and testing in Indiana.

Registrations for the vaccine at the moment are open for Hoosiers 5 and older by way of the Indiana State Division of Well being. This story shall be up to date over the course of the day with extra information on the COVID-19 pandemic.

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This is all the pieces we all know in regards to the COVID-19 vaccine

Biden administration launches covid.gov web site

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South Africa in new surge of COVID from variations of omicron

South Africa is experiencing a surge of recent COVID-19 instances pushed by two omicron sub-variants, in accordance with well being consultants.

For about three weeks the nation has seen rising numbers of recent instances and considerably greater hospitalizations, however not will increase in extreme instances and deaths, mentioned Professor Marta Nunes, a researcher at Vaccine and Infectious Ailments Analytics at Chris Hani Baragwanath Hospital in Soweto.

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“We’re nonetheless very early on this improve interval, so I don’t need to actually name it a wave,” Nunes mentioned. “We’re seeing a slight, a small improve in hospitalizations and actually only a few deaths.”

South Africa’s new instances have gone from a median of 300 per day in early April to about 8,000 per day this week. Nunes says the precise variety of new instances might be a lot greater as a result of the signs are delicate and plenty of who get sick aren’t getting examined.

South Africa’s new surge is from two variations of omicron, BA.4 and BA.5, which look like very very like the unique pressure of omicron that was first recognized in South Africa and Botswana late final yr and swept across the globe.

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Newest US, world numbers

There have been greater than 82.46 million confirmed instances of COVID-19 in america as of 1:30 a.m. ET Monday, in accordance with Johns Hopkins College. There have been greater than 999,600 deaths recorded within the U.S.

Worldwide, there have been greater than 521.47 million confirmed coronavirus instances with greater than 6.26 million deaths and greater than 11.4 billion vaccine doses administered.

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For most individuals, the coronavirus causes delicate or reasonable signs. For some, particularly older adults and other people with present well being issues, it might probably trigger extra extreme sickness like pneumonia, or loss of life.

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Some Shanghai companies to reopen Monday

Shanghai officers say they may permit some companies to reopen Monday, even whereas it stays unclear whether or not residents will be capable to depart their houses. These companies embrace supermarkets, agricultural markets and eating places. 

Metropolis residents are ready cautiously to see how the brand new measures will really play out. Though town’s official whole lockdown started on the finish of March, many have been caught of their houses for longer. 

Shanghai officers have beforehand mentioned town of 25 million folks would reopen in a restricted approach, just for restrictions to return at the same time as instances wane.

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Residents who’ve been allowed to return to work are put right into a “closed loop” system just like the one used for the Olympics. Meaning they can’t return residence however need to dwell on-site.

China reported 1,718 domestically transmitted COVID-19 instances on Sunday, with the overwhelming majority being infections with out signs. 

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Again to regular? Cannes Movie Pageant prepares to occasion

After the 2020 Cannes Movie Pageant was canceled by the pandemic and the 2021 version was scaled again — even kisses have been forbade on the crimson carpet — the lavish French Riviera cinema soiree is about to return with a competition that guarantees to be one thing like regular. Or at the very least Cannes’ very specific model of regular, the place for 12 days formal put on and movie mingle in sun-dappled splendor, standing ovations stretch for minutes on finish and director names like “Kore-eda” and “Denis” are spoken with hushed reverence. This yr’s competition, which begins Tuesday, options the star energy of Tom Cruise, a splashy new Elvis Presley biopic and a long-list of world-renown auteurs.

Air Drive cadets might not graduate on account of vaccine refusal

4 cadets on the Air Drive Academy might not graduate or be commissioned as navy officers later this month as a result of they’ve refused the COVID-19 vaccine, they usually could also be required to pay again hundreds of {dollars} in tuition prices, in accordance with Air Drive officers. 

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The Military and Navy mentioned that, as of now, none of their seniors are being prevented from graduating on the U.S. Army Academy at West Level, N.Y., or the Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland, on account of vaccine refusals. 

Protection Secretary Lloyd Austin final yr made the COVID-19 vaccinations necessary for service members, together with these on the navy academies, saying the vaccine is crucial to sustaining navy readiness and the well being of the pressure.

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The graduations are scheduled to happen within the subsequent two weeks.

North Korea studies 15 extra suspected COVID-19 deaths

North Korea says it has confirmed 15 extra deaths and a whole bunch of hundreds of extra sufferers with fevers amid the nation’s first COVID-19 outbreak. The extra deaths reported Sunday took the nation’s fever-related fatalities to 42. 

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After sustaining a extensively disputed declare that it has been coronavirus-free for greater than two years, North Korea introduced Thursday its first COVID-19 sufferers for the reason that pandemic started. 

It has since mentioned a fever has unfold throughout the nation “explosively” since late April however hasn’t disclosed precisely what number of COVID-19 instances have been discovered. 

The official Korean Central Information Company reported one other 296,180 folks with flu signs had been tallied, taking the reported whole to 820,620.

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US ‘susceptible’ to COVID with out new photographs

The brand new White Home COVID-19 coordinator is issuing a dire warning. He mentioned in an Related Press interview that the U.S. shall be more and more susceptible to the coronavirus this fall and winter if Congress doesn’t swiftly approve new funding for extra vaccines and coverings. 

Dr. Ashish Jha mentioned within the interview Thursday that People’ immune safety from the virus is waning, the virus is adapting to be extra contagious and booster doses for most individuals shall be vital — with the potential for enhanced safety from a brand new era of photographs.

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“As we get to the autumn, we’re all going to have much more vulnerability to a virus that has much more immune escape than even it does as we speak and definitely than it did six months in the past,” Jha mentioned. “That leaves quite a lot of us susceptible.”

Jha predicted that the following era of vaccines, that are more likely to be focused on the at present prevailing omicron pressure, “are going to offer a a lot, a lot greater diploma of safety in opposition to the virus that we are going to encounter within the fall and winter.” However he warned that the U.S. is vulnerable to dropping its place in line to different international locations if Congress does not act within the subsequent a number of weeks.

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Biden urges world to resume COVID combat as US nears 1 million deaths

 President Joe Biden appealed to world leaders on Thursday for a renewed worldwide dedication to attacking COVID-19 as he led the U.S. in marking the approaching “tragic milestone” of 1 million deaths at residence from the virus. He ordered flags lowered to half-staff and warned in opposition to “complacency” across the globe. 

“This pandemic isn’t over,” Biden informed the second world pandemic summit. “Immediately, we mark a tragic milestone right here in america, 1 million COVID deaths — 1 million empty chairs across the household dinner desk.”

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The coronavirus has killed greater than 999,500 folks within the U.S. and at the very least 6.2 million folks globally because it emerged in late 2019, in accordance with figures compiled by Johns Hopkins College. Biden issued a proclamation Thursday directing that U.S. flags be flown at half-staff by way of sundown on Monday to honor those that misplaced their lives to the virus.

The president referred to as on Congress to offer extra funding for testing, vaccines and coverings, one thing lawmakers have been unwilling to ship up to now.

The shortage of funding — Biden has requested one other $22.5 billion of what he calls critically wanted cash — is a mirrored image of faltering resolve at residence that jeopardizes the worldwide response to the pandemic.

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Eight months after he used the primary such summit to announce an formidable pledge to donate 1.2 billion vaccine doses to the world, the urgency of the U.S. and different nations to reply has waned.

2nd COVID-19 booster shot accessible to Hoosiers 50 and up

The Indiana Division of Well being introduced Wednesday that Hoosiers age 50 and older, in addition to these 12 and older with weakened immune methods, at the moment are eligible to obtain a second mRNA COVID-19 booster shot at the very least 4 months after their first booster dose.

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The announcement comes at some point after the Meals and Drug Administration licensed an additional dose of the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine for that age group and and sure youthful folks with severely weakened immune methods.

The Facilities for Illness Management and Prevention later really helpful the additional shot as an possibility however stopped in need of urging that these eligible rush out and get it straight away.

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The IDOH is advising vaccine suppliers that they will start administering second boosters of the Moderna and Pfizer vaccines to individuals who qualify.

The CDC additionally says that adults who obtained a major vaccine and booster dose of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine at the very least 4 months in the past might now obtain a second booster dose of both mRNA vaccine.

Yow will discover a vaccine location at ourshot.in.gov or by calling Indiana 211 (866-211-9966). Appointments are really helpful, however many websites do settle for walk-ins.

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Marion County COVID-19 vaccination and take a look at clinics proceed

The Marion County Public Well being Division (MCPHD) continues to offer free COVID-19 vaccination and testing to anybody desirous about receiving these companies.

MCPHD is working one COVID-19 testing web site, which is a drive-thru clinic situated at 3838 N. Rural St. in Indianapolis.

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The clinic’s present hours are Monday-Friday from 8:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m. This clinic affords PCR testing solely and no fast testing. A listing of extra take a look at websites registered with the Indiana Division of Well being is obtainable at coronavirus.in.gov.

Appointments for COVID-19 testing on the MCPHD location aren’t required however can be found by visiting marionhealth.org/indycovid or calling 317-221-5515.

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MCPHD can be providing COVID-19 vaccines at its district well being workplaces, ACTION Well being Heart, and 4 different places in Marion County. Appointments for vaccines aren’t required however are really helpful. 

Please go to ourshot.in.gov or name 2-1-1 to discover a vaccination clinic.

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Marion County clinic schedule

  • Northeast District Well being Workplace, 6042 E. twenty first St.
    Mondays: 12 p.m. – 4 p.m.
    Tuesdays: 3 p.m. – 7 p.m.
  • Eagledale Plaza Well being Workplace, 2802 Lafayette Street
    Tuesdays: 8 a.m. – 12 p.m.
  • Northwest District Well being Workplace, 6940 N. Michigan Street
    Thursdays: 3 p.m. – 7 p.m.
  • South District Well being Workplace, 7551 S. Shelby St.
    Mondays: 3 p.m. – 7 p.m.
    Fridays: 8 a.m. – 12 p.m.
  • ACTION Well being Heart, 2868 N. Pennsylvania St.
    Wednesdays: 3 p.m. – 5 p.m.
  • Martindale-Brightwood Public Library Department, 2435 N. Sherman Drive (ages 12-over solely)
    Tuesday by way of Friday: 10 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.
    Saturdays: 10 a.m. – 1 p.m.
  • Faculty Avenue Public Library Department, 4180 N. Faculty Ave. (ages 12-over solely)
    Tuesday by way of Friday: 10 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.
    Saturdays: 10 a.m. – 1 p.m.
  • East thirty eighth Avenue Public Library Department, 5420 E. thirty eighth St.  (ages 12-over solely)
    Tuesday by way of Friday: 10 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.
    Saturdays: 10 a.m. – 1 p.m.
  • IndyGo Carson Transit Heart, 201 E. Washington St.  (ages 12-over solely)
    Tuesdays: 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.
    Wednesdays: 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.
    Thursdays: 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.



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Winter Weather Advisory issued for Friday morning across central Indiana

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Winter Weather Advisory issued for Friday morning across central Indiana


It was the coldest morning of the season so far across Central Indiana. For Indianapolis, we had our coldest temperatures since January 21, 2024 with a low of 5°. Crawfordsville and Columbus both had balmy lows of -8°. The clear skies, light winds and fresh snowpack allowed more heat to be released into the atmosphere. For tonight, it will still be chilly. But, we’ll have increasing clouds overnight ahead of our next snowmaker.

Tracking our next snow

This behemoth of a weather maker prompts winter headlines across several states across the United States. This includes Winter Storm Warnings from Raleigh, North Carolina through Dallas, Texas. Some spots in the northern Dallas suburbs could approach half an inch of snowfall overnight and into Friday. We’ll get our share of the snow Friday, too and it will come with commute impacts. Winter Weather Advisory kicks in at 4:00 a.m. Friday and sticks with us through 4:00 a.m. Saturday.

Most of the Friday morning commute should be okay. However, the tail-end of the commute could see some snow showers starting SW and west of Indianapolis. Because of this, a few slick spots can’t be ruled out but those will be few and far between. That activity will gradually spread NE throughout the morning and afternoon. It will become a steady snow from that time and stick around through the Friday p.m. commute. We anticipate that the p.m. commute will come with slowdowns and headaches. So plan ahead!

The snow will taper through the evening before exiting into the overnight hours. When all is said and done, most will end up with 2-4″ of snow. This will be the story through much of Central Indiana. Less snow likely further NW but more possible south and southeast. Those spots could approach 5.0″ in spots.

This will continue what has been a busy winter season for Central Indiana. Since October 1st, Indianapolis has 12.0″ of snow under its belt. Compared to last year’s 2.2″ to date, we have 10″ more snow overall. It’s the most snow to date in 11 years. A typical season (October 1st to May 1st) sees 25.5″ for Indianapolis.

Cold (and more snow) follow

The cold temperatures aren’t going anywhere following Friday’s snow. High temperatures in the 20s will be around through the weekend. We’ll “peak” with highs near 30° Sunday ahead of a frontal boundary. This clipper system could bring some snow showers Sunday night into Monday but those chances are low. If any snow were to occur, amounts would be low.

That will pass through late Sunday into Monday which will give us our next cold blast. Temperatures will tumble during the day Monday setting the stage for more cold. Highs in the teens on Tuesday and Wednesday as we remain dry. Lows in the single digits with subzero wind chills are also likely.

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Indiana bill would ban social media accounts for Hoosiers under age 16 without parental consent • Indiana Capital Chronicle

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Indiana bill would ban social media accounts for Hoosiers under age 16 without parental consent • Indiana Capital Chronicle


One year after Indiana policymakers enacted a law requiring pornography websites to verify users’ ages, a new bill seeks to further restrict Hoosiers under age 16 from creating social media accounts without “verified” parental permission. 

Senate Bill 11, authored by Republican Sen. Mike Bohacek, would require a social media operator like Facebook or TikTok to restrict a minor from accessing the site if they did not receive “verifiable parental consent” from the minor’s parent.

As currently drafted, the bill would additionally allow parents and legal guardians to sue social media providers if their child accesses a site without consent.

Sen. Mike Bohacek, R-Michiana Shores (Photo courtesy Indiana Senate Republicans)

Indiana’s attorney general could also issue a civil investigative demand if the office has “reasonable cause to believe” the law was violated. If a social media operator “fails to implement a verifiable parental consent method,” the attorney general would further be allowed to ask a judge to step in and stop a minor from accessing the site, and request a civil penalty of up to $250,000 for each violation, according to the bill.

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The bill was heard Wednesday in the Senate Judiciary Committee. Chairwoman Sen. Liz Brown, R-Fort Wayne, said the bill is expected to be amended and voted on by the committee next week.

“We’re not trying to regulate content, of what’s going on the various social media sites — that’s not what we’re trying to do,” said Bohacek, of Michiana Shores. “We’re looking to see, is just the fact that social media itself — regardless of the content that’s inside of it — is that, in and of itself, creating the mental health issues that we’re having right now with a lot of our kids? And I believe that’s what it is.”

The bill would be effective on July 1, if passed.

During the 2024 session, state lawmakers approved Senate Enrolled Act 17, requiring pornography websites to verify user ages. They hoped to keep children from accessing pornography, but adult content companies sued, arguing the law would be costly to implement and violate First Amendment and privacy rights.

A federal judge blocked enforcement last June before its intended July effectiveness date, but an appeals court later rolled back the preliminary injunction. The law is currently in effect while the litigation continues.

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Must get consent

Current bill language specifies that “verifiable parental consent” could be obtained “through a method that is reasonably designed to ensure that the person providing the consent is a parent or legal guardian of the minor user.” The proposal also mandates social media providers to establish a procedure to allow a parent or legal guardian to revoke their consent.

At least 10 states have passed laws requiring children’s access to social media be restricted or parental consent gained, and several states’ laws are currently on hold, according to the Age Verification Providers Association, a trade body representing age verification services providers.

What we’re trying to do is getting our kids supervised on this new space, social media, and whatever content their accessing.

– Sen. Mike Bohacek, R-Michiana Shores

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Bohacek said he already has multiple amendments to the bill, including to redefine social media, “because the definition we had originally was very, very broad.” The senator said the updated definition will make clear that sites requiring an account, username and password to access content would qualify. Platforms like YouTube, however — which do not necessarily require a user to sign in before accessing the website — would not be included.

Additionally, a provision in the bill to allow parents and guardians to file lawsuits against the companies if their child was subjected to bullying on the social media platform will be removed.

“We didn’t want to go down that road,” Bohacek said, referring to the bullying provision. “That’s going to be a little bit too much.”

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Another anticipated amendment would require the attorney general’s office to give social media companies up to 30 days to remedy violations before any civil action is taken.

“The goal is not to just find and punish and penalize. It’s not what we’re trying to do here,” Bohacek said. “What we’re trying to do is getting our kids supervised on this new space, social media, and whatever content their accessing. But then also, if you feel your child is mature enough, and you feel like you want to supervise them enough, then you simply give them access to do that. And there’s a process in here to do that.”

Will restrictions keep kids off social media?

Sen. Rodney Pol, D-Chesterton, questioned whether the bill would actually keep youth from creating online accounts. A virtual private network, or VPN, for example, could allow minors to bypass technology used by social media companies to detect a user’s age.

“If a child used a VPN application in order to get around the law, well, that’s no different than jaywalking or speeding,” Bohacek argued. “You know the law, you went around the law, you just didn’t get caught.”

Concerns were also raised by committee members about joint custody cases, in which one parent or guardian consents to a child’s social media account, but the other parent or guardian does not.

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Attorney general, adult websites clash in age verification lawsuit

Bohacek said he’d be willing to tweak the bill’s language to clarify that only “a” — meaning one — parent or guardian must provide their permission.

The Indiana Catholic Conference spoke in favor of the bill Wednesday evening. Only Chris Daley, representing the American Civil Liberties Union of Indiana, spoke in opposition.

He said the bill “clearly infringes on the First Amendment rights of Hoosiers 15 and down, to the degree that those rights attach at certain ages.” Daley pointed to similar laws in Arkansas and Ohio that judges have enjoined — put on hold — amid ongoing legal challenges. If Senate Bill 11 is approved, he expects the law “will eventually be blocked and overturned.”

“I think we all know that this bill will be challenged, and there’s no reason to believe that a court in Indiana — a trial court, federal trial court — will come to a different conclusion,” Daley said. “These cases in Arkansas and Ohio will be resolved, and that could be the appropriate time we all take action. Or, alternatively to that, we could try to do something meaningful.”

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Daley recommended for lawmakers to instead invest in mental health resources for Hoosier youth and focus on educating parents “on steps they can take already” to curb their kids’ internet access.

Brown and other Republicans on the committee pushed back.

“All we’re trying to do here, in my opinion … is to try to give parents a tool which they don’t currently have,” Brown said.

GET THE MORNING HEADLINES.

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Indiana women’s basketball beats Northwestern thanks to clutch 3-pointer from Shay Ciezki

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Indiana women’s basketball beats Northwestern thanks to clutch 3-pointer from Shay Ciezki


The Indiana women’s basketball team beat Northwestern 68-64 at Welsh-Ryan Arena on Wednesday night thanks to a go-ahead 3-pointer from Shay Ciezki with 1:05 to go. 

It was the Hoosiers (11-4; 3-1 Big Ten) sixth straight win over their Big Ten rival. 

Ciezki scored 13 of her game-high 20 points in the fourth quarter and scored six straight at one point with the Wildcats looking to make a comeback. She was the only IU player with a made field goal in the first five minutes of the fourth. 

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The Penn State transfer went 3 of 4 from the field (2 of 2 from 3-point range) and 5 of 5 from the free-throw line down the stretch. She’s made 32 straight free-throw attempts going back to the team’s Nov. 24 loss to Baylor. 

Indiana struggled pulling away while shooting just 39.3% from the field. The Hoosiers led 20-11 at the start of the second quarter, but couldn’t build on the lead thanks to multiple extended scoring droughts. 

Northwestern kept it a two-possession game throughout the second half while getting a big night from reserve guard Melannie Daley. She led the team in scoring with 17 points and season-high six assists off the bench. 

It was her seventh straight game in double-digits. 

Indiana goes back on the road for a game against No. 23 Iowa on Sunday at 3 p.m. before returning home on for a game against Illinois on Jan. 16.

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Michael Niziolek is the Indiana beat reporter for The Bloomington Herald-Times. You can follow him on X @michaelniziolek and read all his coverage by clicking here.





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