Coronavirus in Indiana: What we learned Friday from governor's news conference

Gov. Eric Holcomb and other state officials updated the public on Indiana's response to the novel coronavirus pandemic, in addition to comments on the continuing protests in the state, during a Friday afternoon news conference.

On Friday, Indiana reported 27 deaths due to the novel coronavirus, bringing the state's death toll to 2,078. The state has reported 36,578 total cases and 291,638 administered tests.

• Kristina Box, Indiana State Department of Health commissioner: "Life is not back to normal, like the normal we knew before COVID. Statewide, things are moving in the right direction."
• According to Regenstrief Institute data analyzing 35,167 patients, 26% of patients with positive cases visited the emergency room, 17% were hospitalized, 21% of those hospitalized were admitted to the ICU,  73% of hospitalized patients have been discharged and 18% of hospitalized patients have died. There is an estimated 67% recovery rate.
• Free COVID-19 testing will be offered Downtown at the parking lot at Ohio Street and Capitol Avenue from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday.
• Teresa Lubbers, commissioner of high education: $50 million in federal funding is being provided through the CARES Act to help Hoosiers get jobs. The funding will provide free access to online courses and training and creating an online network that can connect people with career coaches. The Employer Training Grant will also be expanded, with a portion of funds dedicated to supporting minority, women and veteran-owned businesses.
• The Indiana Chamber of Commerce will provide free webinars, mental health resources and internship-matching services. Ivy Tech Community College is also offering free courses and short-term training.
• Cris Johnston, director of the state Office of Management and Budget: May revenue was shy of the forecasted amount of 20%.
• Fred Payne, Indiana Department of Workforce Development commissioner, said Indiana issued payments of $1.5 billion in unemployment claims.
• Holcomb on Indiana Department of Education recommendations: "FSSA and the Department of Health has been working step-by-step with the Department of Education to make sure schools can safely open in July and August. We believe schools can and should open for instruction." Holcomb reiterated that these are guidelines, not requirements.
• Box: "It's using the basic premises and the important things we know CDC has said about opening anything in the state and applying those to our school systems."
• Box: "When schools can cohort students and keep them together in the same room with the same kids and the same teachers, when they can eat together rather than a large cafeteria, when riding the bus they can sit in about the same place, making sure desks, rather than in a circle, are facing straightforward, that students when they're in groups have masks on."
• Jen Sullivan, Family and Social Services Administration secretary: "The lessons learned in the child-care setting informed the health decisions that we helped the Department of Education to build and endorse. We also have looked at countries and states that have gone ahead of us and looked at the data around children." Sullivan said the benefits outweigh the risks, and said she is excited for the close partnership between public health, social services and education.
• Holcomb: "We do have meetings scheduled with the Indiana Legislative Black Caucus. We're talking to multiple groups. I appreciate their input. We've become a repository for lots of instructive thoughts about how we move forward." Holcomb said he spoke with them this morning. "I hope everyone that wants to be constructive and move the needle in a positive direction also feels a sense of urgency. We're taking a lot of time to make sure we hear from everyone that has these concerns."
• Box on schools in-person vs. virtual: "The school, depending on the level of infection within the community, may decide to do more virtually."

Follow IndyStar reporter Matthew VanTryon on Twitter @MVanTryon and email him story ideas at matthew.vantryon@indystar.com.