REPORTED YESTERDAY:
After 728 days, or two days shy of exactly two years, Indiana no longer is operating under a governor-declared statewide public health emergency due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Gov. Eric Holcomb on Thursday signed into law House Enrolled Act 1001, which includes the components the Republican said needed to be written into statute for him to immediately terminate his executive order identifying the coronavirus as an ongoing threat to the health of Hoosiers, and bring to a close an unprecedented period in the state's history.
Among other provisions, the new law enables Indiana to still receive enhanced health care and food assistance funding from the federal government, and authorizes voluntary administration of the pediatric COVID-19 vaccine to children ages 5 to 11.
Lawmakers also are advancing a separate proposal allowing out-of-state medical personnel to continue working at Indiana health facilities.