HEALTH

What we learned from the governor's coronavirus news conference this week

Ethan May
Indianapolis Star

As Indiana continues its work to limit the spread of the coronavirus, Gov. Eric Holcomb held another virtual news conference on Wednesday, Sept. 16.

The state health department reported 624 new cases of COVID-19 on Wednesday and 12 additional deaths. More than 107,000 Hoosiers have tested positive, and 3,247 Hoosiers have died.

Here's what we learned at Wednesday's news conference:

  • Holcomb strongly encouraged Hoosiers to take part in the third part of a study by Indiana University's Fairbanks School of Public Health if researchers ask you to help. The third part of the study will take place in late September and early October.
  • The governor also encouraged Hoosiers to help the American Red Cross as the organization works to help Americans during national disasters such as the wind storms in Iowa, wildfires in the West and Hurricane Laura in the Gulf Coast. 
  • Dr. Kristina Box, commissioner of the Indiana State Department of Health, said Delaware and Monroe counties are in orange in the state's color-coded map. That's the second-worst color on the map, which considers three key metrics: the number of new cases per 100,000 residents, percent positivity and change in percent positivity from the previous week. Orange shows moderate to high community spread. The rest of the state's counties are in yellow, showing moderate community spread, or blue, which shows minimal community spread.
  • The health commissioner said the two counties in orange are rated that way because of testing at congregate living spaces and universities. She said this is an improvement compared to when they started map, a testament to progress the state has made.
  • Box said hospitalization rates are holding steady. 
  • The commissioner said the state is especially concerned about an increase in reported cases among children and young adults, particularly in the 18-22 age group as universities have tested returning students. She said the hospitalization rate remains low among young people. "We need our younger Hoosiers to understand that they are not without risk," she said.
  • Box said since early August case counts are trending down for all age groups except college students.
  • Among K-12 students, the state is seeing a higher percentage of cases among high school students, Box said. She said the state hopes to have historical data of cases in schools available next week.
  • So far in September, nearly half of the state's new COVID-19 cases have been in the 0-19 and 20-29 age groups, Box said. She said they've seen cases from events where young people gather, such as birthday parties and sleepovers. 
  • Indiana now has 253 testing sites, Box said, and that number is expected to increase. "We're excited to see these numbers grow as more counties come online," she said.
  • Box said the state is working with Indiana University in Bloomington to make sure they have accurate totals of how many tests have been taken. She said the state is working to determine exactly how many cases are at the university versus how many are from the community.
  • Box said the state is removing 469 positive results that were added to the dashboard this week due to data reporting problems from a testing lab. She anticipates corrected numbers soon.
  • The state health commissioner said masks and physical distancing are working and that's shown in the numbers. She said Indiana has one of the lowest spread rates in the nation over the last few days.
  • "I don't want it to get lost on anyone that what we're doing is working," Holcomb said. The governor said the improved numbers allow the state to continue reopening in safe way.
  • INDOT Commissioner Joe McGuinness said traffic volumes across the state are starting to return to normal after dipping during the stay-at-home order. Traffic volume is now down 13% compared to pre-pandemic numbers. During the stay-at-home orders, overall traffic was as low as 40% of its pre-pandemic volume.
  • He said freight traffic has also rebounded and even rose higher than pre-pandemic levels. The commissioner said this is a good economic sign.
  • McGuinness said construction season is still in full swing. INDOT has more than 1,100 projects this year. Those will continue into December if the weather cooperates. 
  • He said speeds are up, particularly on the interstates. He asked drivers to slow down, put down your phone and pay attention to work zone speed limits.
  • Total work zone crashes are down this year, he said.
  • McGuinness announced that the state transportation department's grant program for local projects will return. Called Community Crossings, the program has awarded up to $220 million annually, and grants have gone to every county in the state. Applications for the newest round of grants will open Sept. 25.
  • While Box said it's not a good idea to have a big Halloween party, she said there will be ways for kids to safely take part in the holiday. For example, she said kids need to make sure to wash hands before opening candy wrappers and eating the candy.

Contact IndyStar digital producer Ethan May at emay@indystar.com or 317-402-1058. Follow him on Twitter: @EthanMayJ.