>> "INDIANA NEWSDESK" IS MADE POSSIBLE IN PART BY: >> COMING UP ON "INDIANA NEWSDESK," IT'S BEEN A YEAR SINCE COVID-19 ARRIVED IN INDIANA.

TONIGHT, WE'RE REFLECTING ON THE HOOSIERS WE LOST DURING THE PANDEMIC AND THOSE WHO STEPPED UP AND BECAME HEROES >> YOU MAY KNOW THERE'S A VERY CHANCE THEY ARE NOT GOING TO SURVIVE AND YOU CAN'T LET THEIR FAMILY IN TO SEE THEM.

>> WE WERE TOGETHER ALMOST 59 YEARS.

AND MARRIED A MONTH SHY OF 56.

SO WE HAD A GREAT TIME.

AND THAT'S WHAT MADE LOSING HER REALLY, REALLY TOUGH.

>> THE PANDEMIC GROUND THE ECONOMY TO A HALT AND A RECORD NUMBER OF HOOSIERS TURNED TO FOOD BANKS.

AND WITH STUDENTS, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT LEARNING LOSS.

>> JUST LIKE MANY PATIENTS, I STILL HAVE -- PARENTS I STILL HAVE TO WORK AND THERE'S STILL BILLS THAT NEED TO BE PAID.

IT WAS DIFFICULT TO ARRANGE ALL OF THAT TO MAKE SURE THAT SOMEBODY IS WITH THEM DOING THE THINGS THAT THEY NEED TO DO.

>> THOSE STORIES, PLUS THE LATEST ON STATEWIDE VACCINATION EFFORTS, RIGHT NOW ON "INDIANA NEWSDESK"!

♪ >>> WELCOME TO "INDIANA NEWSDESK."

I'M JOE HREN.

INDIANA IS APPROACHING A MILESTONE.

IT'S BEEN A YEAR SINCE INDIANA RECORDED ITS FIRST COVID-19 FATALITY.

THE PANDEMIC TOLL IS STAGGERING, NEARLY 12,500 HOOSIERS HAVE DIED.

FIRST CONFIRMED DEATH WAS ROBERTA BIRDIE SHELTON.

SHELTON DIED AT COMMUNITY EAST HOSPITAL AT MARCH 16th, A WEEK AND A HALF AFTER SHE STARTED FEELING SICK.

SHE LIVED IN A NEAR EASTSIDE INDIANAPOLIS NEIGHBORHOOD AND WAS WELL-KNOWN FOR HER FUND-RAISING EFFORTS FOR THOSE IN NEED.

THE FRIENDS HAVE SCHEDULED A CELEBRATION OF HER LIFE FOR MARCH 21st, A YEAR AND A FIVE DAYS AFTER HER DEATH.

>>> WELL, THERE'S A DIVISION BETWEEN HEARTACHE AND HOPE AS PEOPLE TRY TO GET BACK TO NORMAL A YEAR INTO A PANDEMIC THAT'S TOUCHED EVERY ASPECT OF OUR LIVES.

VIDEOGRAPHER JOY MENDOLIA HAS THIS LOOK BACK.

♪ >> WE HAVE BEEN PREPARING FOR THIS POSSIBLE AND I WANT TO STRESS THAT THIS IS AN ISOLATED CASE AT THIS TIME.

>> WE HAVE DIRECTED ALL BARS, RESTAURANTS, NIGHTCLUBS THROUGHOUT THE STATE OF INDIANA TO CLOSE THEIR IN-ESTABLISHMENT DINING OPTION.

TO THOSE WHO THINK THAT WE MAY BE OVERREACTING, I CAN ASSURE YOU THAT WE ARE NOT.

INDIANA IS UNDER A PUBLIC HEALTH EMERGENCY.

♪ >> TODAY I'M ANNOUNCING THAT ALL K-12 SCHOOLS IN INDIANA SHALL PROVIDE INSTRUCTION VIA REMOTE LEARNING FOR THE REMAINDER OF THE '19-20 SCHOOL YEAR.

♪ >> BRINGING TOTAL OF DEATHS IN THE STATE OF INDIANA TO 1,007 HOOSIERS CONFIRMED TO HAVE DIED FROM COVID-19.

♪ >> LET'S GO AHEAD AND PUT... ♪ >> WE ARE READY TO MOVE AHEAD IN A MEASURED WAY.

♪ ♪ >> FROM THE CITY, I WILL BE PLANNING TO ISSUE AN ORDER ON MPP LIKELY THAT WILL ACCELERATE THE JULY 31st DATE.

>> IN TERMS OF OUR EXECUTIVE ORDER, WE WILL BE STAYING IN STAGE 4.5 THROUGH AUGUST 27th.

♪ ♪ >> TODAY WE REPORTED 971 ADDITIONAL CASES OF COVID-19 IN INDIANA.

WHICH BRINGS OUR TOTAL TO 89,359 TOTAL HOOSIERS KNOWN TO HAVE COVID.

♪ ♪ >> WE'RE SEEING COVID-19 SPREAD IN VIRTUALLY EVERY COMMUNITY, EVERY COUNTY AT DIFFERENT LEVELS.

♪ ♪ >> TOMORROW AN FDA SUBCOMMITTEE IS EXPECTED TO APPROVE THE FIRST COVID-19 VACCINE.

>> THE VERY ACTIONS OF EVERYBODY THAT WILL BE A PART OF DISTRIBUTING THESE VACCINATIONS.

WE PRAY THAT YOU KEEP US FROM ALL HARM, AND WE CONTINUE TO DISPLAY COMPASSION, AND EXCELLENCE AND PURPOSE OF THE TEAM THAT WE ARE FOUNDED UPON.

♪ ♪ >> WELL, RECENT STUDY FROM THE AMERICAN COLLEGE OF EMERGENCY PHYSICIANS REPORTS 87% OF EMERGENCY ROOM PHYSICIANS REPORT FEELING MORE STRESS SINCE THE START OF THE PANDEMIC.

PAT BEANE REPORTS ON WHAT IT'S BEEN LIKE FOR ONE I.U.

HEALTH EMERGENCY ROOM DOCTOR.

>> THIS PAST YEAR HAS BEEN TRYING FOR DR. DREW WATER IN MANY WAYS.

>> I THINK BOTH PROFESSIONALLY BECAUSE OF THE VOLUME OF PEOPLE, AND EMOTIONALLY AND SPIRITUALLY, THE STRESS WAS MASSY.

>> WORKING IN EMERGENCY MEDICINE FOR 14 YEARS HAS LEFT HIM NUMB TO A LOT OF THINGS THAT WOULD SHOCK A NORMAL PERSON BUT THE PANDEMIC CONTINUES TO CHALLENGE HIM IN NEW WAYS.

>> YOU MAY KNOW THERE'S A VERY GOOD CHANCE THAT THEY ARE NOT GOING TO SURVIVE AND YOU CAN'T LET THE FAMILY IN TO SEE THEM.

YOU CAN'T HAVE THE GRAND KIDS THERE AND TO KEEP THE FAMILY SEPARATED KNOWING THAT THIS MAY BE THE END.

SO THERE'S ADDITIONAL EMOTIONAL DAMAGE FROM THAT.

>> MONROE COUNTY RECORDED FIRST DEATH IN MID-APRIL AND BY THE END OF OCTOBER HAD MORE THAN 3500 CASES AND NEARLY 40 DEATHS.

THAT PUT MORE STRESS ON AN ALREADY STRAINED HEALTHCARE SYSTEM.

>> WE GET ADMITTED FOR COVID, YOU ARE NOT IN A HOSPITAL FOR A DAY OR TWO, LIKE YOU BOO MIGHT BE FOR A BROKEN BONE.

YOU SPEND WEEKS AND WEEKS IN THE I.C.U.

>> SO AT TIMES THE HALLWAYS IN THE E.R.

THAT USUALLY OPERATE WITH FULL CAPACITY WERE LINED WITH BEDS FULL OF PATIENTS.

>> THANKSGIVING HIT AND THAT'S WHEN IT WENT SOUTH AND THE NUMBERS WENT UP.

>> THE POST HOLIDAY SURGE MEANT DECEMBER WAS THE DEADLY IN THE COUNTY.

DEATHS JUMPED BY 42.

MORE THAN THE THE FIRST SEVEN MONTHS OF THE PANDEMIC COMBINED.

WATERS SAYS THE STAFF LEANED ON EACH OTHER AS THE CRISIS CREW AND THERE WAS A GREAT DEAL OF SUPPORT FROM THE COMMUNITY.

BUT AS HAPPENED NATIONALLY, COVID FATIGUE BEGAN TO SET?

>> EVENTUALLY SUPPORT OFTEN WANES WITH THE NOVELTY GOES AWAY AND THE DAY IN AND DAY OUT GRIND THAT YOU ARE TRYING TO PROP UP THINGS IS A TOUGH STRAIN FOR EVERYBODY IN HEALTHCARE.

>> ONE YEAR IN THE PANDEMIC, CASES, HOSPITALIZATIONS AND DEATHS ARE ALL DECLINING THANKS IN PART TO VACCINES BECOMING MORE AVAILABLE AND TO PEOPLE STILL FOLLOWING THE CDC'S PREVENTATIVE GUIDELINES.

BUT HAVING WORKED ON THE FRONT-LINES AND SEEING FIRSTHAND THE PACT OF COVID-19, WATERS IS FRUSTRATED BY THE PEOPLE WHO HAVE SPENT A YEAR DOWNPLAYING THE VIRUS.

>> THIS IS NOT AN INFECTION THAT IS A WORLD-ENDING APOCALYPSE INFECTION.

THIS IS A REALLY BAD INFECTION THAT WE NEED TO TREAT SERIOUSLY.

THIS SHOWED US HOW WOEFULLY WE WERE PREPARED AND SOCIALLY TO DEAL WITH THIS KIND OF AN ISSUE.

>> FOR "INDIANA NEWSDESK," I'M PAT BEANE.

>> IT'S DIFFICULT TO UNDERSTAND THE MAGNITUDE OF THE NUMBER OF DEATHS FROM COVID-19 UNTIL YOU START TALKING TO PEOPLE WHO HAVE LOST LOVED ONES.

REPORTER BENTE BOUTHIER BRINGS ONE LOCAL MAN'S EXPERIENCE WITH RECOVERY AND LOSS.

>> KEN AND AUDREY BECKLEY EXPECTED TO LIVE OUT RETIREMENT TOGETHER IN THEIR BLOOMINGTON HOME.

THEN IN AUGUST 2020, WE WERE BOTH DIAGNOSED WITH COVID-19.

>> WE TOOK ALL THE PRECAUTIONS, WE WILL THOUGHT WERE -- YOU KNOW, OF DR. FAUCI AND THOSE AT THE NATIONAL LEVEL AND SOMEHOW WE BOTH GOT COVID.

>> KEN WAS EXTREMELY SICK FOR A WEEK BUT WAS ABLE TO RECOVERY.

>> AUDREY AND ME, MIKE, THE BEACH BOYS ORIGINAL.

>> FIVE DAYS AFTER BEING DIAGNOSED WITH COVID, AUDREY DIED IN I.U.

HEALTH BLOOMINGTON HOSPITAL.

>> ONE OF THE SAD THINGS ABOUT THAT IS, OF COURSE, I HAD COVID, WHICH HAD STRUCK ME HARD, REALLY HARD.

BUT SHE WAS ALIVE DURING THIS AND I HAD TO KEEP GOING.

>> HE WASN'T ALLOWED TO VISIT AUDREY IN THE HOSPITAL.

KEN SPOKE ON FACETIME WITH HER THE DAY BEFORE SHE DIED.

>> I HAD A CHANCE TO TELL HER GOOD-BYE AND -- AND SAY EVERYTHING THAT I WANTED TO SAY TO HER.

YEAH.

>> AUDREY WAS DIAGNOSED WITH M.S.

AT 25 AND KEN SAYS ONE OF HER MOST ADMIRABLE QUALITIES WAS HER POSITIVE APPROACH TO LIFE.

>> SHE JUST WOULD ALWAYS SAY, I'M NOT GOING TO LET M.S.

RUN MY LIFE.

I'M GOING TO CONTROL MY LIFE, AT LEAST AS MUCH AS SHE COULD.

NOTHING IS GOING TO GET AUDREY BECKLEY DOWN, I GUARANTEE YOU THAT.

WE HAD BEEN SO FORTUNATE IN OUR LIVES, EVEN DURING MY PROFESSIONAL CAREERS, TO TRAVEL A GREAT DEAL INTERNATIONALLY.

SO WE GOT TO DO THAT.

WE NEVER -- NOT NATALIE, WE WERE NOT A -- FORTUNATELY WE WERE NOT A COUPLE THAT SAID WE WILL WAIT UNTIL WE RETIRE.

>> HE SAID THE LOSS OF AUDREY HIT HIM HARD IN JANUARY.

>> FOR ME, FAITH AND PRAYERS AND THE SUPPORT OF MY FRIENDS WAS JUST AN ENORMOUS IMPORTANCE.

WILLIAM TOGETHER ALMOST 59 YEARS AND MARRIED A MONTH SHY OF 56.

WE HAD A GREAT TIME.

THAT'S WHAT MADE LOSING HER REALLY, REALLY TOUGH.

KEN GOT HIS FIRST COVID SHOT THIS WEEK AND IS EXPECTING THE ANNOUNCEMENT OF THE BIRTH OF HE AND AUDREY'S FOURTH GREAT GRANDCHILDREN SOON.

I'M BENTE BOUTHIER.

>> FOR MONTHS LONG-TERM CARE FACILITIES RESIDENTS HAVE BEEN ISOLATED WHILE SOME IN-PERSON SOCIALLY DISTANCE VISITATION RESUMED THIS PAST SUMMER.

IT.

IT'S BEEN MONTHS SINCE CAREGIVERS HAVE BEEN ABLE TO HUG THEIR LOVED ONES.

BROCK TURNER TALKED WITH ONE CAREGIVER ABOUT REUNITING WITH HER MOM.

>> IT'S FRANCES.

AND I WAS ALL IN FAVOR AT THE BEGIN OF MARCH FOR LOCKDOWNS.

THEN THEY SAID 15 DAYS AND I THOUGHT, WELL, IT WILL BE LONGER THAN 15 DAYS, BUT I NEVER DREAMED IT WOULD BE A YEAR!

LET ALONE EVEN TWO OR THREE MONTHS.

I DIDN'T -- I THOUGHT MAYBE SIX WEEKS AT THE MOST.

>> I STILL HAVE SITTING IN MY GARAGE A BOX OF PICTURES WE WERE GOING TO HANG RIGHT BEFORE THE SHUTDOWN.

SO JUST LITTLE THINGS LIKE THAT, SHE MISSES HAVING SOMEONE COME IN TO VISIT HER, TO DO LITTLE THINGS LIKE THAT, THAT SHE JUST DOESN'T WANT TO ASK STAFF TO DO ALL THE TIME.

I DON'T EXPECT MY MOTHER TO LIVE A WHOLE LOT LONGER AT 94 AND A HALF AND SHE DOES HAVE SOME HEALTH ISSUES.

THAT'S WHY SHE'S THERE.

AND THAT COULD BE SAID OF ANYONE IN A NURSING HOME OR ASSISTED LIVING.

THEIR TIME IS LIMITED.

AND YOU HAVE CAUSED DEPRESSION, MENTAL DETERIORATION, LOTS OF THINGS FOR A STRATEGY THAT HASN'T BEEN ALL THAT EFFECTIVE.

THE HARDEST THING FOR ME IS JUST TO SEE HER BE DISTRESSED.

THAT'S THE HARDEST THING, NOT TO BE ABLE TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT.

I MEAN, WE HAVE DISCUSSED MANY, MANY TIMES BRINGING HER TO MY HOME, BUT SHE DOESN'T WANT THAT EITHER.

SHE WANTS HER APARTMENT, ABOUT THE SHE WANTS TO BE ABLE TO SEE HER FAMILY -- BUT SHE WANTS TO BE ABLE TO SEE HER FAMILY.

THAT'S BEEN THE HARDEST THING FOR ME.

IT COULD BE YOUR FUTURE.

IT'S BEEN A CRUEL THING AND I THINK IN 20 YEARS, WE WILL LOOK BACK AT WHAT A MISTAKE WE MADE.

>> INDIANA AND THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT CENTERS FOR MEDICARE AND MEDICAID SERVICES ISSUED NOW VISITATION ARE FOR LONG-TERM FACILITY OPERATORS THAT ALLOWS RESPONSIBLE INDOOR VISITATION.

MORE THAN 6,000 LONG-TERM CARE% RESIDENTSES HAVE DAYEDRESIDENTS HAVE DIED IN INDIANA FROM COVID.

MORE PEOPLE HAVE BEEN RELYING ON FOOD SUPPORT.

BEECHMITCH LEGAN -- MITCH LEGAN REPORTS ON HOW THE FOOD BANKS HAVE BEEN ANSWERING THE CALL.

>> THE PANDEMIC LED TO ONE THE SHARPEST ECONOMIC DOWNTURNS IN SIFT HISTORY AS COVID CREEPED ACROSS THE COUNTRY AND EMPLOYEES WERE LAID OFF, INCREASING NUMBER OF HOOSIERS BECAME UNSURE WHERE THEIR NEXT MEAL WOULD COME FROM.

RECORD NUMBERS TURNED TO FOOD BANKS.

>> RIGHT BEFORE COVID STARTED, WE WERE AT 3,000 TO 3,500 PEOPLE DEPENDING ON THE MONTH PER MONTH.

COVID HAPPENED IN MARCH.

WE WENT UP TO ABOUT 5,000.

BY DECEMBER WE WERE AT 8,000.

>> CHAVEZ SAYS AFTER MARCH ALMOST HALF OF PEOPLE MAKING THE TRIP TO HE WILL ELLETSVILLE HAD NEVER BEEN TO A FOOD PANTRY BEFORE.

PANTRY 279 HAD SURPASSED NUMBERS.

>> THEY ARE UPSET AND SCARED AND WORRIED.

WILL WE HAVE ENOUGH FOOD?

WILL WE STILL HAVE A HOUSE?

WILL WE HAVE ELECTRICITY FOR HEATING AND COOLING.

>> ALMOST 1 MILLION HOOSIERS WERE FOOD INSECURE BEFORE 2020.

THAT'S ABOUT 15% STATE'S POPULATION.

SCHOOL CLOSURES CUT OFF A VITAL SOURCE OF FOOD FOR MANY FAMILIES.

JOB LOSSES AND THE UNKNOWN RISKS OF GOING TO THE GROCERY STORE ADDED TO THE PROBLEM.

>> THE NEED IN INDIANA HAS ROUGHLY DOUBLED.

SO WE HAVE SEEN A DISPROPORTIONATE IMPACT AND I THINK YOU CAN ATTRIBUTE SOME OF THAT TO THE PERCENTAGE OF JOBS WE HAD IN AFFECTED INDUSTRIES.

>> THE PANDEMIC ALSO CREATED PROBLEMS FOR FOOD BANKS, SHUTDOWNS, CONFUSION AND UNCERTAINTY LED TO THE BIGGEST DISRUPTION OF THE FOOD SUPPLY CHAIN SINCE WORLD WAR II.

MANY BANKS AND PANTRIES HAD TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO DISTRIBUTE FOOD SAFELY WHILE DEALING WITH THE NEW AIRBORNE VIRUS.

>> WE GO TO A PREPLANNED PARKING LOT DISTRIBUTION WITH LOCAL PARTNERS AND DISTRIBUTE FOOD THAT WAY.

WE DRAMATICALLY INCREASED THE NUMBER OF MOBILES BECAUSE YOU CAN DO THAT IN A SOCIALLY DISTANT WAY.

>> AND THE PANDEMIC CUT THE OVERALL SUPPLY OF VOLUNTEERS.

AND THOSE HELPING OUT FACED INCREASED HOURS AND STRESS.

>> MY HEALTH HAS TAKEN THE SAME TOLL ALL OF THEIR HEALTH.

JAMES DISLOCATED HIS SHOULDER.

MELANIE MESSED UP HER BACK.

JEANNIE HAD A HEART ATTACK.

>> IN MANY PLACES SURROUNDING COMMUNITIES HELPED UP TO ASSIST WITH THE INCREASED NEED OF FOOD, MONEY OR TIME.

BUT AS SPRING APPROACHES AND VACCINES INCREASE, THE DONATIONS ARE SLOW AND THE DEMAND IS HIGH.

>> I DON'T KNOW HOW MANY YEARS THE RECOVERY WILL BE.

IT WL BE FAR LONGER THAN THE MEDICAL RECOVERY.

>> FOR "INDIANA NEWSDESK," I'M MITCH LEGAN.

>>> WELL, SCHOOLS HAVE BEEN IMPACTED GREATLY BY THE PANDEMIC.

WITH LEARNING BEING FORCED ALL ONLINE AT TIMES.

THERE'S ALSO QUESTIONS ABOUT HOW STANDARDIZED TESTING WILL BE IMPLEMENTED AND HOW WELL IT CAN MEASURE STUDENT LEARNING.

>> DANA HOVIUS HAS TWO KIDS IN THE MONROE COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT.

THERE'S BILLY WHO IS IN THE THIRD GRADE AND LILY WHO IS IN THE SEVENTH.

SHE'S DONE HER BEST TO HELP HER KIDS ADJUST TO REMOTE LEARNING AMID THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC, BUT IT'S BEEN HARD FOR EVERYONE.

>> JUST LIKE MANY PARENTS, YOU KNOW, I STILL HAVE TO WORK.

THERE'S STILL BILLS THAT NEED TO BE PAID.

AND, YOU KNOW, IT WAS DIFFICULT TO ARRANGE ALL OF THAT TO MAKE SURE THAT SOMEBODY IS WITH THEM DOING THES THAT THEY NEED TO DO.

>> HER BOYFRIEND WOULD STAY HOME DURING THE DAY TO HELP THES WITH SCHOOL AND SHE WOULD TAKE OVER AT NIGHT AFTER WORK.

LILY SAYS SHE'S MISSED BEING WITH HER FRIEND GROUP DURING THE PANDEMIC.

>> IT'S KIND OF WEIRD, TO BE HONEST.

LIKE WE USED TO SIT AT LIKE A BIG TABLE TOGETHER BEFORE THIS HAPPENED AND WE WOULD SIT NEXT TO EACH OTHER AND WE WOULD BE ABLE TO TALK ABOUT WHAT WE WANTED TO DO NEXT.

>> THE SCHOOL CORPORATION HAS SINCE ALLOWED IN-PERSON LEARNING, BUT ANOTHER HURDLE FOR STUDENTS REMAINS.

STANDARDIZED TESTING.

>> AFTER ALL THAT THEY HAVE DONE, AND THEN YOU ARE REQUIRING THEM TO DO THIS OTHER THING, THAT IS STRESSFUL.

>> STATEWIDE ASSESSMENTS SUCH AS THE IREAD, ILEARN AND I STEP ARE REQUIRED THIS YEAR, EVEN THOUGH THERE WERE CALLED TO CANCEL STANDARDIZED TESTING.

HOVUS SAYS THEY HAVE BEEN FORCED TO PARE DOWN IMPORTANT INSTRUCTION, LEAVING HER KIDS UNPREPARED AND ANXIOUS.

>> I HAVE BEEN REALLY NERVOUS BECAUSE I DON'T KNOW WHAT THEY ARE GOING TO DO FOR TESTING THIS YEAR.

>> THE ADMINISTRATION AT MCCSC HAS QUESTIONED HOW THIS YEAR'S ASSESSMENT PROVIDES RELIABLE INFORMATION ABOUT STUDENTS' LEARNING.

BUT FEDERAL AND STATE EDUCATION OFFICIALS SAY THE OPPOSITE, SAYING LEARNING LOSS MAKES STANDARDIZED TESTING MORE IMPORTANT THAN EVER.

>> WE NEED TO HAVE A -- A MEASURE OF HOW -- OF WHERE STUDENTS ARE RIGHT NOW.

THERE'S NO DOUBT THAT THE LAST YEAR HAS BEEN CHALLENGING FOR EVERYONE.

EDUCATORS, STUDENTS, PARENTS.

>> SHE SAYS THIS YEAR'S ASSESSMENTS ARE FOR GATHERING INFORMATION AND THE STATE IS WORKING TO AVOID PENALIZING STUDENTS OR SCHOOLS FOR THEIR PERFORMANCE.

INDIANA SCHOOLS WILL RECEIVE $1 BILLION IN THE SECOND ROUND OF FEDERAL CARES ACT FUNDING.

MANY DISTRICTS PLAN TO USE THE RELIEF PASSAGE FOR LEARNING RECOVERY.

LAWSON SAYS ASSESSMENT DATA CAN BE USED TO IDENTIFY THE STUDENTS WHO NEED THE MOST PORT.

>> IT'S CRITIC -- SUPPORT.

>> IT'S CRITICAL THAT WE ARE ADDRESSING EDUCATIONAL INEQUITY THAT HAVE BEEN EXPANDED EVEN FURTHER.

YOU KNOW, WE HAVE ALWAYS SEEN THAT STUDENTS OF COLOR AND STUDENTS FROM LOW-INCOME FACE MORE CHALLENGES THAN OTHER STUDENTS.

>> ONE EDUCATION RESEARCHER SAYS THE STATE SHOULD PRIORITIZE MEASURING WHETHER SCHOOLS ARE PROVIDING ADEQUATE SUPPORT AND EMPATHIC INSTRUCTION RATHER THAN WHAT THE STUDENTS HAVE LEARNED IN THE PAST YEAR.

>> BEFORE THINKING ABOUT TESTING THEIR LEARNING, WE HAVE NO THINK WHETHER THE STUDENTS UNDER A POSITION TO LEARN.

>> IN THE GOAL IS TO MEASURE THE STUDENT LEARNING, SHE SUGGESTS SURVEYING STUDENTS AND TEACHERS ABOUT THE PROGRESS THAT THEIR UDENTS MADE AND THE CHALLENGES THEY FACED.

>> THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC HAS MEANT MANY OF US ARE SPENDING MORE TIME ALONE OR AT HOME THAN WE NORMALLY WOULD.

AND IN MANY AREAS AROUND THE STATE, THAT LED PEOPLE TO TURN TO SUBSTANCES AT RECORD NUMBERS.

MITCH LEGAN REPORTS.

>> MARCH 2020 WAS AN UNCERTAIN TIME FOR EVERYONE.

BUT IT WAS ESPECIALLY STRESSFUL FOR CHRISTIE CROWDER.

>> THAT'S THE NUMBER ONE THING THAT WE TELL PEOPLE WHEN THEY GET THIS RECOVERY, FIND A SUPPORT SYSTEM A FIND A RECOVERY.

AND ALL THAT WENT AWAY REALLY QUICKLY WHEN THE PANDEMIC HIT.

>> AS SOMEONE IN LONG-TERM RECOVERY HERSELF, SHE SAW THE PANDEMIC AND INITIAL LOCKDOWNS CREATE NEW STRESS FOR PEOPLE IN RECOVERY AND THOSE WHO ASSIST THEM.

>> WE HAD ALL OF THOSE THOUGHTS, YOU KNOW, WHAT ARE PEOPLE GOING TO DO.

THE MEETINGS ARE GOING TO GET SHUT DOWN.

YOU KNOW, THERAPY, COUNSELING.

>> SUBSTANCE ABUSE SKYROCKETED WHEN THE PANDEMIC HIT AND STATE LOCKED DOWN WITH PEOPLE CONFINED TO THEIR HOMES AND ISOLATED FROM FAMILY, FRIENDS AND SUPPORT GROUPS, AND LOSS OF JOBS, ALCOHOL SALES SPIKED AND MANY COUNTIES EXPERIENCED RECORD OVERDOSE NUMBERS.

>> THE BEGINNING OF THE LOCKDOWN HIGHLIGHTED WHAT CAN HAPPEN WHEN WE DON'T HAVE THOSE SERVICES.

>> BEFORE THE PANDEMIC, INDIANA WAS TRENDING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.

STATE'S WORK STRENGTHENING ITS INFRASTRUCTURE FOR TREATING SUBSTANCE USE DISORDER HAD DECREASE IN OPIOID PRESCRIPTIONS AND IREASE IN AVAILABLE TREATMENT.

OVERDOSE WERE TWO TO THROW THREE TIMES LESS THAN THE NATIONAL AVERAGE.

DOWN IN CLARK COUNTY, WHICH WAS ROCKED BY THE OPIOID EPIDEMIC, MUCH OF THE PROGRESS WAS UPENDED.

>> THERE'S A LOT OF STRUCTURE.

THAT'S ABSOLUTING DEVASTATING TORT RECOVERY COMMUNITY DOWN HERE.

WE SAW A MAJOR UPSWING IN OVERDOSES.

>> STATEWIDE, OVERDOSE EVENTS INCREASED BY 50% IN 2020.

AND ADMINISTRATION OF NALOXONE, THE DRUG USED TO REVERSE THE EFFECTS OF AN OVERDOSE INCREASED BY NEARLY 70%.

>> WHEN THE EMERGENCY DEPARTMENTS BEGAN TO CHANGE THE WAY THEY DID BUSINESS DUE TO COVID, WE -- WE HAD TO PULL BACK ON A LOT OF THOSE SUPPORTIVE STRUCTURES.

>> THE STATE EXPANDED ITS RECOVERY NETWORK TO PROVIDE FOR MORE PEER-TO-PEER RECOVERY SERVICES AND AS INDIANA REOPENED, OVERDOSE NUMBERS BEGAN TO LEVEL OUT.

BUT THEY ARE STILL ABOVE PASS NUMBERS.

>> COVID HAS REALLY DISRUPTED THE MODEL THAT WE HAVE BUILT, BUT AS WE BEGIN TO SEE COVID -- YOU KNOW, THE COVID RESTRICTIONS LESSEN, WE BEGIN TO SEE OUR MODEL COME BACK ONLINE, AND, YOU KNOW, SEE THE POSITIVE RESULTS AGAIN.

>> FOR "INDIANA NEWSDESK," I'M MITCH LEGAN.

>>> WHILE INDIANA HAS SEEN MORE THAN 12,000 DEATHS FROM COVID-19, CASES, HOSPITALIZATIONS, AND DEATHS HAVE DECLINED TO NUMBERS NOT SEEN SINCE LAST SUMMER AND THE MAJORITY OF COUNTIES IN THE STATE ARE IN THE BLUE RANGE, WITH POSITIVITY RATES LESS THAN 5%.

>>> AND JOINING US NOW TO TALK ABOUT THE PANDEMIC IS GRAHAM McKEAN, THE ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC AND ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH AT I.U.

HELLO GRAHAM.

IT'S BEEN A YEAR SINCE THE PANDEMIC BEGAN.

DO YOU HAVE ANY UPDATES FOR US RIGHT NOW?

>> THE BEST UPDATE I HAVE IS THE VACCINES ARE COMING AND THE SUPPLY WILL REALLY CASCADE OVER THE NEXT FEW WEEKS AND WE ARE GETTING REALLY EXCITED HERE LOCALLY AS WE'RE PARTNERING WITH MONROE COUNTY AND WE'RE GOING TO TRANSITION THEIR VACCINATION SITE STARTING MARCH 29th HERE- IN BLOOMINGTON AND REALLY HOPE TO BE ABLE TO EXPAND CAPACITY AND INCREASE SOME OF THE VACCINE UPTAKE IN THE AREA.

>> DO WE KNOW YET ABOUT HOW LONG THE VACCINES WILL PROVIDE PROTECTION AGAINST THE VIRUS?

IS THIS GOING TO BE SOMETHING LIKE THE FLU WHERE YOU GET A SHOT ONCE A YEAR OR IS IT TOO EARLY TO KNOW THAT?

>> I THINK IT'S TOO EARLY.

IT'S STILL, YOU KNOW, UNKNOWN AT THE MOMENT SIMPLY HOW LONG THIS WILL LAST BECAUSE WE ONLY HAVE A FEW MONTHS OF REALLY SOLID DATA.

THAT DATA IS LOOKING REALLY GOOD SO FAR.

SO, YOU KNOW, AT LEAST A FEW MONTHS OF REALLY STRONG RESPONSE AND I ANTICIPATE MUCH LONGER, BUT LIKELY NOT A LIFETIME.

YOU KNOW, I THINK THE FACT THAT THE CDC'S NEW GUIDANCE FOR FULLY VACCINATED INDIVIDUALS, THEY REMOVE ANY REFERENCE TO TIME PERIOD WHICH IS PROMISING.

AND THEY, YOU KNOW, APPEAR EFFECTIVE ENOUGH AGAINST VARIANTS SO FAR.

AND ALL OF THEM ESSENTIALLY GUARANTEE YOU THAT ACTUAL YOU WILL NOT BE HOSPITALIZED NOR DIE FROM COVID-19.

THEY ARE LOOKING AT BOOSTER FORMULAS OF THE EXISTING VACCINES TO BE MORE EFFECTIVE AGAINST THOSE VARIANTS.

AND HONESTLY, WE ARE JUST GETTING A LOT OF REALLY GREAT REAL WORLD DATA NOW FROM PLACES LIKE ISRAEL.

ONE STUDY FROM JUST TWO DAYS AGO FOR THE PFIZER VACCINE THAT SHOWED 94% PROTECTION FROM ASYMPTOMATIC INFECTION AND 97% FROM SYMPTOMATIC.

SO THEY ARE AMAZING.

THEY ARE AMAZINGLY SAFE AND THEY HAVE GREAT SAFETY PROFILES AND EVERYONE SHOULD CERTAINLY GET ONE.

THIS IS THEIR ONLY WAY OF GOING FORWARD.

>> JUST ABOUT 30 SECONDS LEFT THERE'S TALK OF ANOTHER WAVE COMING DUE TO THE VARIANTS OF THE VIRUS.

SO DO WE STILL NEED TO BE VIGILANT?

>> OH, YES.

CERTAINLY NEED TO MAINTAIN THE VIGILANCE FOR NOW, BUT WE ARE HITTING THE HOAX STRETCH.

-- HOME STRETCH.

WE HAVE 50,000 CASES.

WE HAD NEARLY 1,000 DEATHS IN INDIANA TODAY.

AND WITH A DECENT CHUNKS OF FOLKS PREVIOUS SICK OR VACCINATED AND THIS PLATEAU, THE SLOWER DECLINE, THAT MIGHT BE WHAT WE ARE SEEING WITH THE VARIANTS NOW.

YOU MIGHT SEE SOME CONTINUED PLATEAU AND SOME SLIGHT INCREASES BUT I DON'T THINK THAT WE WILL HAVE ANOTHER MASSIVE WAVE BECAUSE OF THE ARM'S RACE BETWEEN THE VACCINE AND THE VARIANTS.

>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR TIME.

>> THANK YOU, JOE.

>> BLOOMINGTON IS PLAYING A MAJOR ROLE DURING THE COVID-19.

KCATALANT HAD BEEN PRODUCING THE MODERNA VACCINE AND IT'S DOING THE SAME WITH THE NEW JOHNSON & JOHNSON VACCINE.

>> SPECIFICALLY FOR JOHNSON'S VACCINE, WHAT WE ARE DOING IS TAKING THE BULK DRUG THAT JOHNSON IS PROVIDING AND WE ARE, YOU KNOW, FORMULATING IT INTO A FINISHED STATE.

AND THEN FILLING IT TO VIALS.

WE DO 100% INSPECTION ON ALL OF THOSE VIALS.

>> NOW BEFORE THE PANDEMIC.

THEY BROKE GROUND IN ADDITION TO ITS FACILITY ON THE WEST SIDE OF THE BLOOMINGTON AND AED MORE THAN 1300 WORKERS.

>> THAT'S THE END OF THIS PROGRAM.

WE COVER THE NEWS THROUGHOUT THE WEEK AT WTIUNEWS.ORG.

HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND.

>> "INDIANA NEWSDESK" IS MADE POSSIBLE IN PART BY: