By Erica Irish 
TheStatehouseFile.com

INDIANAPOLIS — Indiana neared a milestone in the COVID-19 pandemic Friday: The number of Hoosiers reported dead from the virus is now just shy of 2,000, per the latest reports from state health officials.

Indiana State Health Commissioner Dr. Kristina Box told the state in a virtual press briefing it’s a number that signifies “the hardest part of her job” this spring. And as Indiana begins to reopen and conduct major public events — including the state primary next Tuesday, for example — she called on residents to remember the state can’t go back to normal even as it reopens.

“There is a point in time, when there’s not a vaccine that’s going to be out tomorrow or the next day, when we have to start to say, ‘how can we safely reopen the state of Indiana?’” Box said.

Overall, the number of new COVID-19 cases and deaths is on the decline from its height in April. The Indiana State Department of Health updated the total COVID-19 cases statewide to 33,558 confirmed, an increase of 521 cases from Thursday. An additional 40 people were reported to have died from the virus, increasing the state total to 1,946. Another 164 deaths are listed with a probable connection to COVID-19.

Indiana’s hospital infrastructure also remains stable, with 38% of intensive care unit beds available and 83% of ventilators available. An estimated 63% of COVID-19 patients who were hospitalized have recovered as well.

But those who remain in high-risk categories will have to continue to protect themselves, Box said — and their neighbors should prepare to help in creating a new normal that’s safe for everyone. That includes wearing masks and practicing social distancing.

“And that’s why when I see individuals not wearing masks and they go into a particular store, whether it’s a grocery store or retail store, I don’t understand it,” Box said. “That’s a selfish way of behaving.”

Box’s remarks were made days before Indiana’s rescheduled primary election, now happening June 2 instead of May 5, and at a time when some say not enough has been done to ensure voters’ ballots will be counted if they forego voting in person.

The Indiana Election Commission voted to allow no-excuse absentee voting for the election as the pandemic unfolded. In normal circumstances, Indiana voters have to offer a reason for requesting an absentee ballot, such as work conflicts or being on a military tour.

Despite the change, local election administrators and voters have reported problems with receiving absentee ballots on time. Absentee ballots must be received by the county election office by noon on Election Day to be counted. In-person voting at traditional polls remains an option from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m.

A coalition of voting rights organizations called Vote Safe Indiana, which includes representation from groups like Common Cause Indiana, the League of Women Voters of Indiana, Indiana Vote By Mail and others, have called on state officials repeatedly to extend the deadline for absentee ballots. The group sent a letter to Indiana Gov. Eric Holcomb, Secretary of State Connie Lawson and the Indiana Election Commission citing complaints from county clerks and the urgency of voting in a health crisis.

“The noon Election Day deadline is arbitrary and makes no sense during the pandemic when 10 to 20 times the usual number of mailed ballots are being submitted and processed,” the letter said. “The artificial deadline, a full six hours before the polls have closed, has become a significant barrier for innocent voters.”

Marion County Clerk Myla Eldridge also sent a letter to Lawson Thursday that alleged thousands of votes might not be counted if the noon deadline remains. Lawson responded with her own letter and remarks in the Friday press conference, however, that claimed the deadline is necessary for “security and accountability.” Instead, Lawson said, Marion County officials should have acted sooner to prepare for the increase in ballots.

“Lack of prior planning and preparation are not sufficient reasons to change deadlines,” Lawson wrote in her response letter. “In fact, extending the deadline will not help as many Marion County voters haven’t received a ballot.”

The aftermath of the pandemic continues to pose logistical questions to state leaders in other areas, too. This includes how to save small businesses from the economic downturn caused by shutdowns that limited commerce in an effort to prevent disease spread.

On Friday, Indiana Secretary of Commerce Jim Schellinger and Luke Bosso, chief of staff for the Indiana Economic Development Corporation, announced several new relief opportunities for small businesses who could not benefit from the federal Paycheck Protection Program.

Next week, for example, businesses with fewer than 50 employees may apply for Small Business Restart Grants. Businesses can receive $2,500 grants for each month of a 40% revenue loss, and $5,000 for each month with a reported 80% revenue loss.

The state is also using nearly $3.7 million in federal dollars made available by the CARES Act to help small business planning adapt to a new normal. Another $10 million will be used from the state’s 21st Century Research and Technology Fund to create new aid for manufacturers called EASE, the Economic Activity and Stabilization Program.

Erica Irish is a reporter for TheStatehouseFile.com, a news website powered by Franklin College journalism students.