Indiana Doctors Urge Anti-Coronavirus Pledge As Deaths Surge

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — A group of Indiana doctors are urging people to sign an online pledge that they’ll take action to slow the coronavirus spread as the state faces a COVID-19 death rate that keeps going higher.

State health officials on Friday added 71 recent coronavirus deaths to Indiana’s toll. Those give the state 25 consecutive days through Wednesday with at least 50 deaths of people with COVID-19 infections.

Indiana had one day in April with 50 coronavirus deaths, followed by several days in single digits as recently as September until surging past the 50 mark again in mid-November.

The Hoosier COVID Crisis petition calls for people to avoid gatherings, wear face masks, get the vaccine when it’s available and advocate for government financial support for those suffering the pandemic’s economic effects.

“This is a voice for those people to say, we’re all in this together,” said Dr. Gabriel Bosslet, a petition organizer who has treated COVID-19 patients at Indianapolis hospitals. “I think the minority is very vocal and the majority didn’t have a microphone.”

Some doctors hope that if enough people sign the pledge, state leaders will consider additional steps to curb the virus spread.