WFHB Bloomington Community Radio
2,756 new cases of COVID-19 were reported in Indiana on Monday, according to the Indiana State Department of Health. There were 126 newly reported deaths. Locally, Monroe County saw 79 new confirmed cases yesterday and no new confirmed COVID-19 deaths. Lawrence County reported 18 new cases and 1 confirmed death. Brown County reported 2 new cases, and 1 death.
The age requirement to sign up to receive the COVID-19 vaccination from the Indiana Department of Health remains at 70 years of age and older. If you qualify, you can sign up by visiting Ourshot.in.gov, or by calling 2-1-1 for assistance.
Indiana University Bloomington, in coordination with the Monroe County Health Department and local government officials, have initiated plans to open a COVID-19 vaccine site on campus. However, the site would not be restricted to IU faculty, staff, and students. Any local residents eligible for the vaccine would be able to receive the vaccine at the IU site. Regardless, the opening of the site will likely be affected by the amount of vaccine available in Indiana. Members of the IU campus community are prepared to distribute the vaccine, pending state registration confirmation and finalized plans.
Last night approximately 150 people gathered to march in protest of the evictions of people experiencing homelessness at Seminary Park. The protest followed two city led evictions of the park since December 9th. Concerned citizens gathered at Seminary Park at 9pm and marched through freezing rain to Bloomington Mayor John Hamilton’s home.
The event was organized by Bloomington Homeless Coalition volunteers and Bloomington’s unhoused population. Demonstrators led the march to Hamilton’s home holding signs which read “Everybody’s got a right to live” and “Fight Poverty, Not the Poor.” Five demonstrators spoke outside of Hamilton’s home about their experience with city policies regarding people experiencing homelessness. The crowd even directly addressed Mayor Hamilton outside of his home, but Hamilton did not greet the crowd.
