Indiana virus warnings persist even as hospitalizations dip By TOM DAVIESDecember 22, 2020 GMT INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Indiana’s governor and top health official called Tuesday for continued precautions to slow the coronavirus spread over the Christmas holiday even as pressure has eased on hospitals across the state with slight declines in COVID-19 illnesses in recent weeks. Health officials also reported a busy start to vaccinations, with more than 40,000 health care workers expected to have received their first shots by the end of Tuesday and vaccinations planned to start next week for some residents of Indiana nursing homes. ADVERTISEMENT CHRISTMAS WARNING Indiana’s COVID-19 hospitalizations are down about 10% since peaking Nov. 30 but remain nearly four times higher than in September when the state’s steep increase began for coronavirus deaths, hospitalizations and new infections.