State Health Officials Respond to Skepticism about COVID-19 Death Count

State health officials are addressing skepticism about how big a role COVID-19 actually plays in the deaths attributed to it. State Health Commissioner Dr. Kris Box says a recent data report from the National Center for Health Statistics about what death certificates say about deaths from COVID-19 has been widely misinterpreted on social media.

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Schools May Be Called Upon to Help Health Officials with COVID-19 Contact Tracing

As schools consider how to handle potential COVID-19 cases, their staff members may be called upon to help with contact tracing. State Superintendent of Public Instruction Dr. Jennifer McCormick said last week that parents have been hesitant to verify their children’s identities and personal information with state contact tracers and have been calling schools instead.

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Hot Buildings, Longer Processing Times Hinder COVID-19 Testing Efforts

A lack of air conditioning is creating challenges for Indiana’s COVID-19 testing. The state-sponsored sites run by OptumServe were initially set up in National Guard armories. The problem now, according to State Health Commissioner Dr. Kris Box, is that few if any of those buildings are air conditioned, and there are OSHA guidelines that have to be followed to keep the workers safe.

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