Live blog: Chick-fil-A closes dining room seating amid virus fears
INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — Here’s what we know about the coronavirus and its impact in Indiana, as we get it.
10:35 p.m. update
Chick-fil-A announced Sunday it will close dining room seating to help limit person-to-person contact. Some locations may provide only drive-thru service, while others may offer takeout, delivery or mobile ordering options.
8:20 p.m. update
IU will extend its spring break by a week and transition to virtual learning for the remainder of the spring semester. It will close most of its on-campus housing on March 20. Men’s and Women’s Little 500 bike races are canceled for this academic semester.
8 p.m. update
Starting Tuesday, all elective, non-urgent surgeries at St. Vincent Hospital in Indianapolis will be canceled. The decision follows the guidance of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the U.S. surgeon general and the American College of Surgeons, Ascension St. Vincent said.
7:40 p.m. update
Tipton Community School Corporation said its schools would be closed beginning Monday and e-learning for its students would start on Wednesday. Spring break for the district runs from March 27 through April 5. The district plans for classes to resume on April 6, but a decision will be made closer to that date.
7 p.m. update
Starbucks announced Sunday it is shifting its service to a “to go” model in all company-owned stores in the U.S. and Canada for at least two weeks.
Here’s what you can expect:
- Pausing the use of all seating, including both the café and patio areas
- Customers can still walk up and order at the counter, through the “order ahead” feature in the Starbucks app, via the drive thru and use delivery
- Modified condiment bar in all stores
- You may see modified “order ahead” handoff areas on a store-by-store basis
- Temporary closures for company-owned stores in high-social gathering locations, such as malls and university campuses
- Temporary store closures or reduced operating hours in communities with high clusters of COVID–19 cases
5 p.m. update
The Monon Community Center will close Monday until further notice, Carmel Clay Parks & Recreation said. The following events are canceled through April 10: recreation programming, aquatic programs, swim lessons, rentals, volunteer events and organized events that include Hamilton County Homeschool Hoopla, Summer Hiring Event, Barrier-Free Theatre Performance and Swim Meet. During the closure, full-time and part-time staff will continue to be paid.
Other parks operated by Carmel Clay Parks & Recreation remain open.
12:20 p.m. update
Kroger announced Sunday it is shifting its service hours temporarily amid concerns of the coronavirus.
According to a statement from Kroger, the grocery chain is altering the hours at Kroger Central Division locations in Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Missouri and Ohio.
The changes are effective at locations beginning at closing time Sunday. The stores will be open from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m.
“Our supply chain teams are working tirelessly to ensure that food, medicine and cleaning supplies reach our customers as quickly as possible,” the company said Sunday. “This schedule change will allow our store teams to focus on stocking the fresh, affordable food and essentials that our customers are looking for when they walk in our stores.”
The company said the change will also allow greater attention to cleaning.
11:30 a.m. update
Hamilton County health officials on Sunday confirmed its first positive case of COVID-19.
In a release sent to News 8 Sunday morning, the county said it is working closely with the state health department to determine who the patient may have been in close contact with.
County officials said the patient is currently hospitalized.
“We have known COVID-19 would arrive in Hamilton County eventually, we were fortunate to have additional time to prepare for our first case,” said Dr. Charles Harris, Hamilton County Health Officer, in a statement. “We will continue to work with our federal, state, and local partners to mitigate, and respond to COVID-19.”
No other details were released regarding the patient who tested positive.
10:15 a.m. update
The Indiana State Department of Health has confirmed 19 total cases of COVID-19 in the state. The cases increased by 4 since Saturday’s last report from state officials.
Hamilton County has its first positive coronavirus case. Marion County’s case total has doubled since Saturday from three cases to six.
No deaths have occurred in Indiana.
ISDH says a total of 121 people have been tested.
County-by-county breakdown of positive cases:
- Adams – 1
- Boone – 1
- Hamilton – 1
- Hendricks – 2
- Howard – 1
- Johnson – 3
- LaPorte – 1
- Marion – 6
- Noble – 1
- St. Joseph – 1
- Wells – 1