INDIANAPOLIS (AP) -
Seventeen new coronavirus infection cases have been confirmed around
Indiana, jumping the state's total to 56, health officials said Thursday.
The virus causing
COVID-19 illnesses has now been identified in 22 of Indiana's 92 counties,
the Indiana State Department of Health reported. Eight of the new cases are
in Indianapolis, with others confirmed among residents of Howard, Lake,
Owen, St. Joseph, Tippecanoe and Wayne counties.
Indiana has
recorded two COVID-19 deaths, one each in Marion and Johnson counties.
Gov. Eric Holcomb
and the state health commissioner planned a Thursday afternoon news
conference to discuss the state's virus response.
All public schools
across the state are now closed to students in an attempt to slow spread of
the virus, the governor's office said Wednesday. At least one district in
southeastern Indiana has decided not to resume in-person classes this school
year.
Several auto plants
and other factories are closing around Indiana as the economic fallout
spreads with recommendations of no public gatherings of more than 50 people
and Holcomb's call for restaurants and bars to halt in-person service.
The owners of the
two largest hotels in downtown Indianapolis are considering temporary
closures a'mid drastic declines in business.
The 1,005-room JW
Marriott Indianapolis and other hotels across the country owned by
Merrillville-based White Lodging are seeing occupancy rates in the low
single digits, company Chairman Bruce White told the Indianapolis Business
Journal.
The 650-room
Indianapolis Marriott Downtown also is considering closing temporarily, the
IBJ reported.