INDIANAPOLIS — Here are Monday's latest updates on the coronavirus pandemic, including the latest news on COVID-19 vaccinations and testing in Indiana.
Registrations for the vaccine are now open for Hoosiers 12 and older through the Indiana State Department of Health. This story will be updated over the course of the day with more news on the COVID-19 pandemic.
Biden: People with long-term COVID effects could get disability protection
President Joe Biden says that people grappling with the long term effects of COVID-19 will have access to disability protections.
The president announced the initiative Monday at the White House as he marked the 31st anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act.
Biden says the initiative is the first of its kind. Lingering challenges from the coronavirus such as breathing problems, brain fog, chronic pain and fatigue could rise the level of a disability. So Biden says he’s bringing federal agencies together to ensure that people who had the virus will know their rights and available resources as they navigate work, school and the medical system.
VA mandates COVID-19 vaccination for health care workers
The Department of Veterans Affairs on Monday became the first major federal agency to require health care workers to get COVID-19 vaccines, as the aggressive delta variant spreads across the nation and some communities report troubling increases in hospitalizations among unvaccinated people.
Vaccines will now be mandatory for certain medical personnel at the VA — including physicians, dentists, podiatrists, optometrists, registered nurses, physician assistants and others who work in departmental facilities or provide direct care to veterans, said VA Secretary Veterans Affairs Secretary Denis McDonough. Employees will have eight weeks to get vaccinated.
The VA's move came on a day when nearly 60 leading medical and health care organizations issued a call for health care facilities to require their workers to get vaccinated.
State reports 8,985 more fully vaccinated, 0 deaths
The Indiana State Department of Health reported 8,985 more people are fully vaccinated against COVID-19 as of Monday morning. The state has registered 2,927,425 residents who are fully vaccinated.
ISDH reported 1,976 new cases of the virus since Friday. Indiana has recorded 766,351 people who have tested positive for COVID-19.
The state had no additional deaths reported Monday, with the total deaths during the pandemic standing at 13,537.
Colts coach Frank Reich tests positive for COVID-19
Indianapolis Colts Head Coach Frank Reich has tested positive for COVID-19 despite being fully vaccinated against the virus, the team announced Monday.
The Colts organization said Reich is asymptomatic and currently quarantining outside of the Grand Park Sports Campus where the team hosts training camp beginning Wednesday.
"I'm excited for training camp," Reich said in a prepared statement, "however, I'm disappointed I won't be there with the team as we start. I'm fortunate to be fully vaccinated and I'm asymptomatic. I'm feeling well and I'm looking forward to returning as soon as I'm medically cleared," Reich said in a news release.
Sparked by pandemic fallout, homeschooling surges across US
Some U.S. parents say they're planning to continue to homeschool their children, even as schools resume in-person classes.
Some families who spoke with The Associated Press have children with special educational needs. Others seek a faith-based curriculum or say their local schools are flawed. The common denominator: They tried homeschooling on what they thought was a temporary basis, and found it beneficial to their children.
The U.S. Census Bureau has confirmed the surge. It says the rate of households homeschooling their children rose to 11% by September 2020, doubling from 5.4% six months earlier.
Fauci says US headed in 'wrong direction' on coronavirus
Dr. Anthony Fauci says the United States is in an “unnecessary predicament” of soaring COVID-19 cases fueled by unvaccinated Americans and the virulent delta variant.
The nation's top infectious diseases expert tells CNN's “State of the Union” that “we’re going in the wrong direction,” and he describes himself as “very frustrated” with rising infection rate. He says recommending that the vaccinated wear masks is “under active consideration” by the government’s leading public health officials.
Fauci also suggests booster shots may be suggested for people with suppressed immune systems who have been vaccinated.
Latest US, world numbers
There have been more than 34.44 million confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the United States as of 1:30 a.m. ET Monday, according to Johns Hopkins University. There have been 610,891 deaths recorded in the U.S.
Worldwide, there have been more than 194.1 million confirmed coronavirus cases with more than 4.15 million deaths. More than 3.83 billion vaccine doses have been administered worldwide.
For most people, the coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms. For some, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness like pneumonia, or death.
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Some French health workers resent, resist mandatory vaccines
While most French health care workers are vaccinated against the virus, a small but vocal minority is holding out. With infections exploding, a law requiring them to get injected is exposing this divide and prompting mixed reactions across the medical profession.
The French government has rushed the vaccine mandate through parliament. The bill also sets up a “health pass” for French people to access restaurants, sports stadiums and other public venues.
Polls suggest that a strong majority of the French approve the vaccine mandate for health care workers. But some workers are strongly opposed and turned out for protests in French cities over the weekend.