WHO picks up media statements from the Wuhan Municipal Health Commission and ProMED about a cluster of cases of “pneumonia of unknown cause,” in Wuhan.
WHO informs Global Outbreak Alert and Response Network partners about the cluster of pneumonia cases in the People’s Republic of China.
Chinese officials provide information to WHO on the cluster of cases of “viral pneumonia of unknown cause” identified in Wuhan.
WHO tweets that no deaths have resulted from the cluster of pneumonia cases in Wuhan, while investigating the cause of the illness.
The Indianapolis Star mentions the new ‘mystery disease,’ referring to the 44 cases of a new virus in Wuhan, China and 5 cases in Hong Kong.
A 30-year-old man who had recently visited Wuhan tests positive in Washington State. By April, fatal cases of COVID-19 are discovered in California as early as February 6.
The Regenstrief Institute’s LOINC team begins to create a series of codes to track cases of the novel coronavirus in the U.S. and across the globe.
State public health officials monitor 26 people in Indiana due to recent travel.
With global numbers reaching 100 deaths and 6,000 cases, President Trump forms the Coronavirus Task Force. Alex Azar, Secretary of Health and Human Services leads the committee.
The World Health Organization declares the novel coronavirus a global issue after the virus reaches multiple countries including the United States.
Health and Human Services Secretary Alex M. Azar declares a public health emergency for the entire United States, giving state, tribal, and local health departments greater flexibility in responding to the 2019 novel coronavirus.
Following best practices the WHO chooses to name the disease caused by the novel coronavirus COVID-19 to avoid inaccuracy and stigma associated with tying the name to a geographical area, animal, individual, or group of people.
At least two Indianapolis residents attend the BioGen Conference in Boston, later identified as a ‘superspreader’ event.
The Indiana State Department of Health puts its Pandemic Preparedness and Response Plan into practice to respond to coronavirus. The agency establishes a call center for those with risk factors.
A Marion County resident, likely infected in February at the Biogen conference in Boston, tests positive for a mild case of COVID-19. State health officials do not see evidence of community spread.
Governor Eric Holcomb declares a public health emergency in Indiana after the first confirmed case. The executive order opens the door to federal funding to help prevent the spread of COVID-19.
As part of new efforts to limit potential exposure to COVID-19, Indianapolis area nursing homes and healthcare providers begin to limit visitors. In addition, IU Health offers a Virtual Screening service.
The Indiana State Department of Health announces that a Hendricks County resident and BioGen conference attendee tests positive for COVID-19.
Avon announces the closure of all of its schools after one student tests positive for COVID-19 and another student shows symptoms, becoming the first school system in Indiana to close due to the novel coronavirus.
Indiana and Purdue universities announce that students returning from spring break on March 23 will do so online.
The World Health Organization officially declares a global pandemic after the SARS-CoV-2 virus spreads across international borders and infects large numbers of people, causing the COVID-19 disease.
As Michigan and Rutgers warm up for the noon tipoff of their game, the Big Ten cancels its men’s basketball tournament. Within a few hours, Indianapolis-based NCAA announces it will cancel its men’s and women’s tournaments.
Governor Eric Holcomb announces COVID-19 restrictions on non-essential gatherings and asks schools to prepare for broad closures.
The C-CERF Task Force works with community organizations to help ensure support of central Indiana residents in need during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Trump’s declaration allows the federal government to tap up to $50 billion in emergency relief funds, loosens regulations on the provision of healthcare, speeds up testing, and waives interest on all student loans.
Roche expects to make milions of swab test a month available in response to the pandemic. The tests run on Roche’s cobas 6800/8800 high-throughput molecular testing systems, delivering results in three and half hours.
The Indianapolis Marion County Public Library closes in an effort to help prevent the spread of the virus. All library locations, as well as bookmobile services, suspend services and extend due dates for materials.
Roberta Shelton, a 69-year-old Marion County woman, dies at a Community Health Network hospital.
The new order limits gatherings to less than 50 and activates the Indiana National Guard. All restaurants must cease serving food to dine-in customers but may continue to offer food via carry-out, delivery, or drive-thru.
Mayor Joe Hogsett declares a “local disaster emergency,” limiting travel and closing bars, entertainment venues, and certain businesses like gyms and movie theaters.
Eli Lilly & Company announces it will start coronavirus testing with same-day or overnight results.
Governor Eric Holcomb orders all Indiana schools to remain closed until at least May 1. He also announces a ban on utility shut-offs as well as evictions and foreclosures during the crisis.
Indiana Governor Eric Holcomb signs an executive order to move the primary election from May 5 to June 2. Steps are taken to ensure that all Hoosiers have the option to vote by mail.
Carmel’s Chinese community bands together to help medical personnel.
Governor Eric Holcomb issues stay-at-home orders for Indiana residents for two weeks. Exceptions extend to essential workers and essential trips such as for groceries or doctor appointments.
The Polis Center’s geoinformatics, health informatics, and community informatics teams create maps, dashboards, and datasets to aid practitioners and policymakers during the COVID-19 public health crisis.
The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act provides relief through stimulus payments, extended unemployment provisions, small business relief, extra funds for hospitals and health care, and more.
IndyGo reduces its scheduled service, suspends all transit fares, and implements new safety measures such as rear door entry only with the exception of wheelchair users.
Business Ownership Initiative, a program of Indy Chamber administers the Rapid Response Loan Fund to businesses by the COVID-19 pandemic. The loans will help businesses pay employee salaries and insurance premiums, or serve as a bridge loan.
Due to the expected surge in COVID-19 cases, Governor Holcomb eliminates licensing barriers for healthcare professionals who wish to assist in screenings, telemedicine, and other basic procedures.
More than 11,000 clinicians, including paramedics, dentists, veterinarians, therapists, and midwives, volunteer their expertise to assist overwhelmed hospitals by sterilizing instruments or overseeing telehealth operations.
The Dallara IndyCar Factory uses its Eastman Machine, typically used to cut carbon fiber for IndyCar chassis, to cut fabric for medical gowns and masks.
Because crowded homeless shelters cannot offer the required space for social distancing, the city sets up temporary shelters in Garfield and Washington Parks.
Municipal employee Donnell Blakely becomes the first city employee to die of COVID-19. Blakley’s union leader acknowledges that some other members of AFSCME 962 union are seriously ill with the COVID-19 disease.
Governor Holcomb extends the stay-at-home order for two weeks and compels non-essential businesses to operate online or via curbside transactions only. Campgrounds must close and employers must adhere to employee safety regulations.
The Kheprw Institute launches the LEAD (Local Entrepreneur & Artist Direct) Support Fund to help entrepreneurs and artists that have lost income due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The fund provides $500 emergency grants through a random drawing.
As 9.8 percent of the state’s population, the group count as nearly 20 percent of all deaths and positive cases.
Hundreds of Hoosiers gather in front of the Governor’s Residence to protest Indiana’s stay at home order.
The dashboard provides data on patients’ course of care through healthcare systems in Indiana.
IBE cancels the Circle City Classic, a football game between two historically black colleges or universities since 1984, along with the Summer Celebration, the largest ethnic–cultural event in the United States.
In its daily update, the Indiana State Department of Health announces 43 additional deaths, pushing the state’s pandemic death toll to 1,007, just 45 days after its first death.
Faced with the highest number of cases and deaths in the state–100 new cases a day, Mayor Joe Hogsett announces the city will remain closed for an additional 11 days beyond the state beginning of Phase 2 on May 4.
Governor Eric Holcomb reveals a 5-stage plan to reopen the state in executive order 20-26. Stage 1 retains the current restrictions and limitations, while stages 2 through 5 allow for the incremental opening of additional businesses and entities.
Approximately 300 Hoosiers gather to protest the extension of stay-at-home orders and the plan to open Indiana’s economy in stages.
The campain encourages Speedway residents to demonstrate civic pride through porch and window decorations amidst COVID-19 stay-at-home orders.
More than 20,000 Hoosiers have been diagnosed with COVID-19. Marion County continues to have the highest number of new deaths (363) and new cases (6,327) in the state.
Stage two of the plan lessens restrictions on businesses, travel, and gathering sizes for religious institutions. Some malls around the state open with restrictions.
Charlie Cai, CEO of Westfield Outdoors and China-based exporter Zhejiang Hengfeng Top Leisure donate 100,000 surgical masks and 5,000 isolation suits to the state of Indiana.
Indiana University doctors join a study of transfusing plasma from recovered patients into seriously ill patients to determine if antibodies are present at levels high enough to assist in fighting the disease.
Stage 3 increases the size of gatherings and allows gyms, fitness centers, community pools, campgrounds, and other recreational facilities to open provided they maintain social distancing restrictions and sanitation guidelines.
By May 22, about 495,000 Hoosiers apply for an absentee ballot. In the 2016 primary, only about 53,800 Hoosiers statewide voted by mail.
Still raw from the Indianaplis police shooting death of Dreasjon Reed, a 21-year old Black man, city residents fill downtown streets to protest the death of George Floyd at the hands of Minneapolis police, sparking fears of COVID-19 spread.
Lilly, AbCellera, and the Vaccine Research Center at the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases collaborate on the development of LY-CoV555, a drug that specifically targets the SARS-CoV-2 virus.
The virus claims the lives of 2,000 Hoosiers across the state.
With too few volunteers to staff polling places, long lines cause some Marion County citizens to skip casting their vote. By voting day, some people who requested paper ballots do not receive them.
The State Fair Commission and Board cancels the 2020 Indiana State Fair due to COVID-19 concerns. The fair still offers an augmented 4-H livestock show to highlight the 4-H youth projects.
Governor Holcomb allows professional office building, retail store, and mall employees to work at full capacity. Dining room food service opens at 75 percent capacity, while bars, cultural and tourism sites, and entertainment facilities operate at 50 percent capacity.
A substantial number of Marion County residents elect to vote via absentee ballot, overwhelming the Marion County Clerk’s Office. An unprecedented 1,800 absentee ballots remain uncounted.
The Indiana Women’s Prison quarantines inmates in their cells to prevent the spread of COVID-19, however, many cells lack toilets, running water, or air conditioning, prompting concern among advocates for the welfare of the inmates.
Governor launches the Mask Up, Indiana! campaign as a means of persuading people of the importance of masks in slowing the spread of the virus.
Indianapolis Mayor Joe Hogsett orders people to wear masks indoors and outdoors where social distancing is not possible.
COVID-19 increases the number of mental health-related issues across Indiana, prompting the launch of the Be Well Crisis Helpline.
Despite protests, Indiana Governor Eric Holcomb signs an executive order requiring masks for all Hoosiers eight years and older.
Avon Community Schools restart in-person classes for the 2020-2021 school year. Other area schools make individual choices whether to hold in-person, virtual, or hybrid classes.
The delayed Indianapolis 500 takes place on August 23rd without fans for the first time in its 109 year history. Takuma Sato wins the 104th Indianapolis 500.
The virus claims the lives of 3,000 Hoosiers across the state.
After months of criticism, the Indiana State Department of Health creates and launches the Long Term Care Dashboard to help Hoosiers track COVID-19 case numbers and deaths.
The Latino Alliance asks the City of Indianapolis to take greater action to aid the Latino community after the Marion County Public Health Department shows COVID-19 disproportionately affects Hispanic/Latino residents.
Stage 5 of Indiana’s reopening plan removes size limitations for social gatherings. Restaurants, bars, indoor and outdoor venues, and fitness centers may open at full capacity. Nursing homes and assisted living facilities are required to provide visitation opportunities.
To combat COVID-19 the Indiana Department of Health announces plans to reinforce and support the healthcare infrastructure, protect the vulnerable, mitigate the spread, and vaccinate the general public.
The virus claims the lives of 4,000 Hoosiers across the state.
The number of COVID-19 cases across Indiana hits 200,000.
Governor Holcomb reinstates social gathering restrictions in Indiana due to an increased number of COVID-19 cases, deaths, and hospitalizations.
The virus claims the lives of 5,000 Hoosiers across the state.
The number of COVID-19 cases across Indiana increases by 100,000 within a month.
The virus claims the lives of 6,000 Hoosiers across the state.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration issues the first emergency use authorization for a vaccine for COVID-19. The authorization allows distribution of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine for individuals 16 years of age and older.
Six frontline healthcare workers become the first in Indiana to receive the COVID-19 vaccine from Parkview Health.
An Indianapolis physician becomes the first to receive the vaccine after IU Health receives an initial dose of 1,950 vaccines.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration issues an emergency use authorization for the Moderna COVID-19 Vaccine for use in individuals 18 years of age and older.
Black physician Dr. Susan Moore dies after chronicling on Facebook her multiple hospitalizations and alleging the racially motivated delays in the treatment and diagnosis of COVID-19 at IU Health North and later at Ascension-St. Vincent Carmel.
The virus claims the lives of 7,000 Hoosiers across the state.
Over the course of a month, the number of COVID-19 cases increases by 200,000.
Numerous locally owned and national chain restaurants and retail stores, including local staple Costumes by Margie in business for 50 years, succumb to the harsh business climate in the wake of COVID-19.
The virus claims the lives of 8,000 Hoosiers across the state.
To control COVID-19 safety logistics around the men’s basketball tournament, the NCAA and city of Indianapolis plan to contain the entire 68-team tournament to six sites–four of them in Indianapolis.
Since its inception on July 20, 2020, the Be Well Crisis helpline receives more than 6,000 calls from Hoosiers regarding stress, anxiety, loneliness, or mental health strains due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Indiana prioritizes COVID-19 vaccinations by age, with the exception of those with certain underlying health conditions. Residents age 80 and older are now able to register for their vaccines.
The virus claims the lives of 9,000 Hoosiers across the state.
The reported death toll jumps from 9,713 on February 3 to 11,231 on February 4 due to the Indiana State Department of Health discovering approximately 1,500 additional deaths attributable to COVID, 1,200 of which happened in 2020.
The virus claims the lives of 12,000 Hoosiers across the state.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration issues an emergency use authorization for Johnson & Johnson’s Janssen COVID-19 vaccine for use in the U.S to people 18 years of age and older.
Over one million Hoosiers receive either their first dose or both doses of the COVID-19 vaccine, nearly half of which are in the 70 and above age range. Marion County leads with the highest number of vaccinated people in the state.
The Indianapolis Motor Speedway partners with the Indiana Department of Health to host a three-day mass vaccination clinic for Hoosiers ages 55 and up. The clinic offers the single-dose Johnson & Johnson vaccine.
Three months into the state’s rollout of the COVID-19 vaccine, the Indiana Department of Health says more than 1 million Hoosiers are fully vaccinated against COVID-19.
Over the last three months, the COVID-19 vaccination has slowly opened to more age groups beginning with those 70 and up on January 13, 2021, to those residents 16 and older at the end of March, 2021.
The Indianapolis Motor Speedway and IU Health team up once again with the Indiana Department of Health to host several multi-day mass vaccination clinics. The clinics (April 1-3, April 13-18, and April 24-30) provide the single-dose Johnson & Johnson vaccine for Hoosiers age 18 and older.
Governor Holcomb ends Indiana’s mask mandate with the exception of in all state buildings and facilities, vaccination and COVID testing sites, and K-12 schools through the remainder of the 2020-21 school year. Marion County continues to require masks be worn.
Indiana National Guard soldiers collaborate with Ascension St. Vincent to create a plan to prevent exhaustion of a hospital’s resources in the event of a patient surge.
The FDA investigates the cases of six women who suffered a rare blood clot linked to the J & J vaccine, interrupting its use for the moment. Accordingly, the Indianapolis Motor Speedway mass vaccination clinics switch to the two-dose Moderna vaccine.
The FDA and CDC determine the risk of adverse side effects of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine (15 out of 8 million people suffered blood clots or death) minimal enough to resume its use.
The number of fully vaccinated Hoosiers reaches 2,110,729. Marion County counts 267,177 fully vaccinated residents.
The Indiana Department of Health opens vaccinations to children between the ages of 12 and 15. The FDA gives approval of only the Pfizer vaccine to this young age group.
The CDC announces that fully vaccinated people may stop wearing masks, but must still practice social distancing. Mask mandates in Marion County remain in place for all residents.
All Indiana University campuses require full vaccination of students, faculty, and staff before returning to campus. A group of students later files a federal lawsuit alleging that the requirement violates the Fourteenth Amendment.
Fully vaccinated Hoosiers number 2,424,633. Marion County reaches 322,087 fully vaccinated residents.
The funding provides relief for coronavirus-related expenses over the next two years. Another $32 million provides for rental assistance.
The Indy 500 attracts 135,000 fans, reaching about 40 percent of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway’s capacity. Despite the mask mandate, many fans remain unmasked.
Indiana University Health requires full vaccination of all its employees by September 1, 2021.
The Delta variant, first detected in India, spreads to the United States and makes up about 6 percent of all COVID-19 cases. The variant causes more severe symptoms, but current vaccines demonstrate 90 percent effectiveness against it.
The Indianapolis City-County Council ends the mask mandate for fully vaccinated residents, though unvaccinated residents must still wear masks. Hospitals, airports, public transportation, municipal buildings, and some businesses continue to mandate masks regardless of vaccination status.
The Community Health System requires all employees to be fully vaccinated for COVID-19 by September 15.
Indiana uses the federal funds towards improving COVID testing and contact tracing for higher-risk, underserved populations as well as reducing COVID-19-related health disparities.
With vaccination rates dropping, the city tries to boost rates through prize incentives such as Indianapolis Colts season tickets, a signed Peyton Manning jersey, Pacers half-season pass, and Children’s Museum tickets.
Indiana sees 97 cases of the Delta variant of COVID-19.
Butler requires its students, faculty, and staff to be fully vaccinated in order to return to campus. In addition, it relaxes mask and social distancing policies.
Marion County Superior Judge John Hanley temporarily halts Governor Eric Holcomb’s decision to end the state’s participation in federal unemployment insurance programs.
U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Indiana upholds the vaccination requirement despite eight students’ argument that their 14th Amendment rights would be violated.
The FDA authorizes a third dose of the Pfizer vaccine for immunocompromised individuals, including people undergoing cancer treatment and those who have received organ transplants.
The Indiana Supreme Court blocks President Joe Biden’s extension of the eviction moratorium by another 60 days in areas with high transmission of the coronavirus.
IU Health suspends fewer than 300 of its nearly 36,000 employees for failing to meet the September 1, 2021 deadline for full vaccination.
Some Indiana hospitals resort to suspending all elective inpatient procedures and diverting ambulances away from emergency rooms and intensive care units to cope with the rapid surge in COVID-19 patients fueled by the Delta variant.
Some Hoosiers unsure of the safety of the COVID-19 vaccine protest vaccine mandates in the workplace during a “medical freedom” rally at the Indiana Statehouse.
The CDC recommends booster doses of the Pfizer vaccine for people over the age of 65 and those in long-term care facilities to counter waning immunity in those populations.
The Indiana National Guard partners with the Indiana Department of Health to create 5 teams of 10 members each, all fully vaccinated to help short-staffed hospitals.
Since the pandemic began more than a year and a half ago, Indiana loses 1 in every 445 Hoosiers (given Indiana’s population of 6.7 million) in coronavirus deaths.
The price of construction materials and labor delay the opening of the Indianapolis Public Library branches at Fort Ben and Broad Ripple.
Total cases
144,163
Total deaths
2,231
The new variant, which has already been identified in nearly 40 other countries, is now confirmed in 11 U.S. states, not including Indiana. Omicron has less severe symptoms but spreads more easily than both the original virus and the Delta variant.
The omicron variant of the COVID-19 virus is reported in Indiana in a specimen collected from an unvaccinated resident.
A 23-person U.S. Navy medical team is sent to Methodist Hospital for 30 days to help relieve staff overwhelmed by COVID-19 related cases.
Isolation restrictions for people infected with COVID-19 are reduced from 10 days to 5 days. The decrease is due to the evidence that coronavirus is most infectious in the two days before and three days after symptoms develop.
Franciscan Health hospitals in Indianapolis and Mooresville implement new visitation guidelines due to the increase in the volume of inpatients with the spread of the omicron variant of the coronavirus. Patients are only permitted one visitor each day.
Total cases
163,311
Total deaths
2,262
Six members of the Indiana National Guard arrive at Eskenazi Hospital to help relieve staffing shortages due to a surge in coronavirus cases in Indianapolis. The national guard members are working in non-clinical roles for a two-week period.
In an attempt to address shortages of COVID-19 tests, the U.S. government launches the federal testing website where citizens can request to be sent four free COVID-19 tests per household.
The CDC advises the use of N95 masks over cloth masks for better protection against the omicron variant. To help provide access to N95 masks, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services gives away 400 million masks by distributing them through pharmacies and retailers.
Total Cases
205,689
Total deaths
2,545
Moderna’s COVID-19 vaccine, which received emergency authorization in 2020, is given full approval by the Food and Drug Administration after reviewing additional data on its safety and effectiveness.
To keep staff and students safe, Indianapolis Public Schools is offering free voluntary PCR and rapid testing at several locations. The testing sites are available before and after school to IPS staff, students and families, as well as the general public.
The Food and Drug Administration authorizes Eli Lilly’s new antibody drug, bebtelovimab, that targets the omicron variant of COVID-19. The drug is intended for adults and adolescent patients with mild-to-moderate cases of COVID-19.
Noblesville and Carmel Clay schools roll back mask mandates due to a decrease in quarantines and positive cases across the district. Masks will now be optional in school, but Federal guidelines still require students and staff to wear masks while on school buses.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have eased mask recommendations in response to declining case counts and hospitalizations. People living in counties where the coronavirus is posing a low or medium threat to hospitals can stop wearing masks. Masks will still be required on public transportation.
Total cases
222,270
Total deaths
2,765
Indianapolis Public Schools make face masks optional for students, staff, and visitors as COVID-19 cases decline across the country. The district also plans to end social distancing, contact tracing, and quarantine protocols in schools.
Gov. Eric Holcomb ends the emergency just prior to signing House Bill 1001. The law continues enhanced Medicaid and food assistance, enables children under 12 to receive a COVID-19 vaccination outside a doctor’s office, and requires employers to grant medical or religious exemptions.
The library, which has already brought back in-person programming, no longer requires masks inside its buildings. Other organizations around Indiana have also begun to relax their mask requirements including Ball State University, Indy Parks, the Children’s Museum of Indianapolis, and Purdue University.
Two years ago the World Health Organization (WHO) declared COVID-19 a global pandemic. Moving into the third year, COVID-19 deaths and cases begin to decrease since a mid-January pandemic peak.
MDWise, The Indiana Immunization Coalition and Indianapolis Public Schools hold a free “Back on Track” clinic at Crispus Attucks High School to allow children to update routine childhood vaccinations that were delayed or canceled by the COVID-19 pandemic.
