INDIANAPOLIS — For the last two years, so much of our lives have been changed by the COVID-19 pandemic.
From staying at home to help slow the spread, to wearing masks, to COVID-19 vaccines becoming available, the last two years have been a lot.
Here's a timeline looking at the COVID-19 pandemic's impact on Indiana.
- Jan. 9, 2020: The World Health Organization and Chinese authorities identify a novel coronavirus outbreak.
- Jan. 20, 2020: A 35-year-old man in Washington state is the first confirmed case of COVID-19 in the United States.
- Jan. 30, 2020: WHO declares a public health emergency.
Feb. 11, 2020: WHO the new coronavirus disease will be called COVID-19 - March 6, 2020: The first confirmed case of COVID-19 is announced in Indiana. Gov. Eric Holcomb and state health officials declare a public health emergency.
- March 11, 2020: WHO declares the COVID-19 outbreak a pandemic.
RTV6
- March 16, 2020: Roberta Shelton, a Marion County resident, is the first Hoosier to die of COVID-19.
- March 23, 2020: Holcomb issues a stay-at-home order to slow the spread of COVID-19.
- May 1, 2020: Officials release plan to reopen Indiana.
- July 22, 2020: Holcomb issues mask mandate across the state.
Courtesy of IndyCar Communication/Walt Kuhn
- Aug. 23, 2020: For the first time in history, the Indianapolis 500 is held without fans.
- Sept. 23, 2020: Indiana fully reopens and moves to stage 5 of the state’s reopening plan.
- Dec. 9, 2020: Cases start to rise again. Holcomb announces limits on gathering sizes based on a county’s COVID-19 metrics.
Indiana State Department of Health
- Dec. 14, 2020: The first COVID-19 vaccine dose is administrated in Indiana.
- Jan. 4, 2021: Officials announce all of the NCAA March Madness games will be played in Indianapolis and central Indiana.
- April 6, 2021: Indiana's statewide mask mandate becomes an advisory.
WRTV photo/Jonathon Christians
- July 28, 2021: Holcomb urges Hoosiers to get vaccinated as cases rise due to the delta variant.
- August 2021: Schools begin the new school year. Some schools start the school year off with a mask requirement, but none of the schools WRTV checked with required vaccination.
- Dec. 9, 2021: Indiana National Guard comes to assist IU Health.
- Dec. 17, 2021: IU Health said they are dealing with an “all-time high” number of COVID-19 patients.
- Dec. 19, 2021: IDOH announces the first case of the omicron variant has been detected in an unvaccinated Hoosier.
Photo Provided/Spc. Raekwon Jenkins
- Dec 20, 2021: U.S. Army announces a 20-person medical team from the U.S. Navy is coming to IU Health Methodist Hospital as they deal with an increase of patients.
- Feb. 25, 2022: The CDC released new guidance easing indoor mask guidance in public places and schools based on the area’s risk level.
- Feb. 28, 2022: Indiana reports the lowest number of new cases since July 2021.
- March 3, 2022: Holcomb signs a bill to end the state's COVID-19 public health emergency.
Latest Stories
-
Court rules ex-IPS student incompetent to stand trial in alleged teacher assault
A Marion County judge issued an order Wednesday finding a former IPS student incompetent to stand trial for the alleged battery of a special education teacher.
Bartholomew County prepares for potential flooding following severe weather
All of Indiana — including the southern part of the state — is bracing for flooding in addition to the severe storms.
Man fatally shot on Indy's near northwest side
A person was fatally shot on the near northwest side of Indianapolis on Wednesday, according to police.
Boone County explores options for attainable housing
By 2030, they will need 10,000 additional housing units to meet the demand in Boone County. That is according to a recent study from the county's Economic Development Corporation.
