Coronavirus: Indiana Opens Vaccines To 12+, Legislature Overrides Local Health Orders Veto
Coronavirus: Indiana Opens Vaccines To 12+, Legislature Overrides Local Health Orders Veto
The Indiana Department of Health reported 60 additional confirmed deaths over the last week. That brings the state’s total to 13,063 confirmed deaths. The state also reported more than 5,700 new cases in the last week.
Indiana has administered 2,508,774 initial vaccine doses, with 2,299,256 Hoosiers fully vaccinated.
Here are your statewide COVID-19 headlines from last week.
The FDA passed emergency use authorization for the Pfizer vaccine for that age group early last week.
Indiana is sending doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine to counties without it, following federal approval of that vaccine for 12- to 15-year-olds.
Emilie Syberg / WBAA
West Lafayette Mayor John Dennis issued an executive order Friday ending the enforcement of the city’s mask-wearing ordinance. The move followed Thursday’s announcement by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention that fully vaccinated individuals do not need to wear masks or socially distance.
Dennis reiterated Friday he will urge the complete withdrawal of the mandate at the next city council meeting on June 7.
“I think as a society, the level of awareness, the level of awareness of transmission, and the willingness to accept responsibility on their own behalf in other words, getting vaccinated, or wearing a mask in the event that they don’t is allowing for us to feel a little more comfortable about loosening up a little bit on some of the regulations and the restrictions that we’ve had here, specifically in West Lafayette,” Dennis said.
Tippecanoe County health officials and county commissioners met Wednesday to discuss the future of emergency health orders and the fate of current COVID-19
Local health leader reaction to Senate Bill 5 veto override
Public health leaders are sharing their disappointment at the override veto vote on Senate Bill 5.
Posted: May 12, 2021 10:26 PM
Updated: May 13, 2021 6:36 PM
Posted By: Anna Darling
TIPPECANOE, FOUNTAIN AND WARREN COUNTIES, Ind. (WLFI) - Public health leaders are sharing their disappointment at the override veto vote on Senate Bill 5.
As we previously reported, Governor Eric Holcomb vetoed the bill. However, the state legislature reconvened on Monday and voted to override that veto.
The bill makes it so that health departments must get approval from county commissioners to make any kind of public health mandate. It makes it so that local health orders can t supersede a state health order, and it makes it so county health officers must be appointed by county commissioners.
Indiana Public Health Association urging legislators not to override public health veto
The Indiana Public Health Association is voicing its opposition of Senate Enrolled Act 5. As we ve previously reported the bill would allow local elected officials to block public health orders.
Posted: May 7, 2021 3:47 PM
Updated: May 8, 2021 10:05 AM
Posted By: Marvin Bills
TIPPECANOE COUNTY, Ind. (WLFI) In a press conference on Friday members of the Indiana Public Health Association discussed the significant dangers of Senate Enrolled Act 5. We are here today to urge our legislatures to not override the Governor s veto and to urge all Hoosiers who value public health to contact their state legislatures about this important issue, said Tippecanoe County Health Officer, Dr. Jeremy Adler.