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
-
Ceasefire Indy holds 4th annual Friendsgiving to serve community, honor Ron Gee
Ron Gee would cook the food for the annual event himself to feed as many people as he could ahead of Thanksgiving. Now, in his absence, his family continued the Friendsgiving in his honor.
1 critically injured, 1 killed in shooting on Indy’s east side
One person was critically injured, and one was killed in a shooting on the east side of Indianapolis early Sunday morning.
Forecasts warn of possible winter storms across US during Thanksgiving week
Forecasters in the U.S. have warned of another round of winter weather that could complicate travel leading up to Thanksgiving. Here's what to be prepared for.
Man killed in shooting on Indy’s northeast side
One person died after being shot in the 2400 block of East 38th Street on the northeast side of Indianapolis Saturday night.
