Testing to expand

INDIANAPOLIS — Indiana health officials announced plans Tuesday to significantly increase coronavirus testing, and the governor said he is preparing details on how the state could possibly relax business restrictions later this week while similar steps are debated across the country.

The state’s death toll from confirmed coronavirus cases has topped 900, with nearly 100 other people having died with presumed infections, health officials said.



Testing boost

Indiana’s deal with OptumServe Health Services calls for the company to open 20 testing sites around the state within the next week, with 30 more sites during the following two weeks. The closest of those to Jay County will be in Muncie, Richmond and Huntington. Those sites are intended to provide COVID-19 testing for 100,000 people within 30 days, said Dr. Lindsay Weaver, chief medical officer with the Indiana State Department of Health.

That’s more than the some 87,100 tests reported to the state health department since coronavirus testing began in early March as Indiana has trailed national testing rates. Testing has been largely limited to health care workers and people who are seriously ill.

The new testing program will be provided for free to anyone with COVID-19 symptoms without the need of a doctor’s order, Weaver said.

“This will provide a more complete picture about the spread of the virus, not only in high-risk populations but across the entire state,” Weaver said.

OptumServe, which is a division of insurance giant UnitedHealth Group, has a $17.9 million contract with the state, which officials hope will be covered by federal grants, Weaver said. But neither Weaver nor Gov. Eric Holcomb explained how the company was selected during the governor’s coronavirus briefing Tuesday.

The first 20 testing sites will be at Indiana National Guard armories, with tests performed by appointments only. Those appointments can be made on a website that OptumServe is to launch in the coming days, the governor’s office said. Those tested are expected to receive the results within an average of 48 hours.



Easing restriction

Holcomb said he would announce changes Friday to the statewide stay-at-home order that has been in effect since March 25. The governor has not specified his planned modifications but indicated more workplaces and businesses could reopen while under guidelines such as requiring masks, additional spacing between employees and frequent cleanings.

State officials are considering information such as hospitalization and death rates, along with the availability of intensive care unit beds and ventilators for those who are seriously ill in deciding whether to lift any restrictions, Holcomb said.

“That will roll out in stages,” Holcomb said. “It will not be that light switch, where the economy’s open — we’re all back to work, same thing as it used to be. It won’t that. It will be in multiple stages leading through the summer.”

The latest state statistics showed 546 COVID-19 patients were in the intensive care units of Indiana hospitals and that 44% of ICU beds remained available as of Monday. That’s 75 fewer coronavirus patients in those ICUs than last Thursday.

Holcomb has over the past two weeks lifted the state’s ban on elective medical procedures by providers including hospitals, surgery centers, dentists and veterinarians.

Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine on Tuesday revised his reopening plans, saying wearing masks will be “highly recommended” rather than required. He made the change after hearing from consitutients, including the mother of an autistic boy.



Cases and deaths

Indiana State Department of Health reported 650 new cases of COVID-19 Tuesday, surpassing 600 for the sixth consecutive day. That follows yesterday’s high mark of 963 new cases.

More than a quarter of the state’s total of 16,588 cases have been reported in the last six days, with Indiana averaging 700 per day over that span.

The state department of health also reported 57 new deaths today, bringing the Indiana total to 901.

Jay County reported its 14th case of COVID-19 on Monday, though that case was not part of today’s state report. Delaware County leads the area with 152 cases, followed by Randolph (15), Adams (seven), Blackford (seven) and Wells (five).

Marion County (Indianapolis) accounts for 30.6% of the state’s cases with Lake County (Gary) next at 10.3%. Cass County (Logansport), which had an outbreak at a Tyson Foods meatpacking plant, follows at 6.6%.