45 min ago INDIANAPOLIS – Even as COVID-19 vaccine eligibility opened up to all Hoosiers age 16 and older, Kris Box, the state health commissioner, cautioned that COVID-19 cases continued to spread and Hoosiers still need to wear masks and socially distance. “Unfortunately, right now the (COVID-19) variants are picking up steam,” Box said. “Our proximity to Michigan, which is one of the stop states for the B.1.1.7 (United Kingdom) variant, is also a concern.” Michigan has the second-highest reported number of B.1.1.7 cases in the country behind Florida, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Cases in Michigan rose most among the younger populations, Box said, indicating the need for younger residents to get vaccinated to avoid a similar jump in case numbers. Indiana’s case numbers of started to slightly increase again even as 21% of Indiana’s population is fully vaccinated.