The Indiana Department of Health collaborated with the Richard M. Fairbanks School of Public Health at Indiana University Indianapolis to conduct a scientific study to measure the spread of COVID-19 throughout the state.
The closely monitored study included random sample testing for SARS-CoV-2—the novel coronavirus that causes COVID-19—viral infections and antibodies in Hoosiers.
Indiana Prevalence Study
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Publications
Announcements
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Paul Halverson: Thank you, Dr. Box. I want to express our gratitude to both you and Governor Holcomb for leading Indiana’s response to COVID-19.
As Dr. Box mentioned, I’m Dr. Paul Halverson, founding dean of the IU Richard M. Fairbanks School of Public Health at IUPUI. Founded in 2012, the Fairbanks School of Public Health is committed to protecting and advancing the health of Hoosiers in Indiana and beyond. In the last eight years, our faculty and staff have responded to public health and health administration issues with evidence-based research and practice – from the opioid and tobacco crises to rising health care costs; from developing maternal and child health interventions to leading a large-scale response to chronic diseases like diabetes – we have been on the frontlines of Hoosier health in Indiana.
We are also pleased to support Indiana’s local public health departments through our support of the local health officer association as well as in training individuals who will be our public health leaders of tomorrow. In addition, we are proud to work closely with both Dr. Box and her leadership team here at ISDH as well as Dr. Caine, our local Marion County Health Officer (all of whom are doing an incredible job supporting our state during these very challenging times).
Since the emergence of the virus, our school has been supporting the state’s response to COVID-19. Working with public health officials and hospital leaders, including at the Indiana Hospital Association, we created forecasting models to predict the spread of COVID-19 in Indiana and understand hospital surge capacity. With this knowledge, we developed capacity planning models for hospitals and health systems. Now, our school is leading the random sample testing initiative across Indiana for the virus that causes COVID-19 and its antibodies.
Nir Menachemi: Thank you, Dr. Halverson. I am pleased to lead the scientific team in our partnership with the State which includes multiple agencies and private organizations that Dr. Box will soon mention. The team from the Fairbanks School includes leading biostatisticians, epidemiologist, informatics, and clinical infectious disease experts. Together with the State we are taking a critical step toward understanding how COVID-19 has affected the population of Indiana.
I want to highlight an important distinction in how this testing initiative differs for existing testing endeavors. To date, almost all of the testing that has occurred has come from patients with serious symptoms or other high-risk individuals including our frontline health care workers. Existing tests were purposefully focused on clinical settings to support clinical decisions affecting individual patients. Because these tests only focused on sick or high-risk individuals, we lack an understanding of how many people in our state have been infected especially if they were not formally tested or had no symptoms.
This is where our work comes in. We will obtain scientifically valid results of the proportion of state residents that are currently infected (regardless of symptoms) and those that may have already been infected with the virus based on antibodies. We will finally obtain an understanding of the true prevalence of COVID-19. The individuals we will test have been selected randomly to represent everyone in the state above the age of 12. Each selected individual will be asked to volunteer their participation with parental approval, as necessary. Those agreeing will provide both a nasal swab- to test for active viral infection, and a blood draw- to allow for antibody testing.
Whereas existing tests have supported clinical decisions of individual patients; our approach will allow for a community-level understanding of the virus’ impact. This will enable better evidence-based policies—including the complex decisions surrounding social distancing orders.
We have identified a representative sample of Indiana residents by randomly selecting people, in each district of the state, from a list of all residents. Our randomization protocol was carefully calibrated to ensure the ability to draw conclusions about the impact of COVID-19 by each of the state’s districts, sex, race, and ethnicity; as well as overall rates for the state. For this reason, if you are selected, please consider participating so that your community, however you define it, can be represented in our data.
Our overall plan is to conduct multiple waves of data collection that will occur months apart. Wave 1 will start immediately and provide critical information including establishing a baseline. Each additional wave of testing will allow us to examine how changes in the prevalence of the disease is progressing in Indiana and how it is affecting the groups I just mentioned. For each wave, we will enroll 5 to 7 thousand individuals statewide. In order to adhere to the scientific protocol, only those contacted by ISDH will be able to participate. Unfortunately, we will not be able to test others at our drive-thru testing locations.
Before turning it over back to Dr. Box, who will describe the logistical and operational plan, I want to reiterate the importance of our study in determining the true count of infections, including mild cases, which represents important information not currently widely available in any state. By being among the first states, we will get a head start in understanding the epidemic’s true trajectory, identify and address disparities, and be able to make wiser decisions on how to deploy our limited resources. Thank you, Governor Holcomb, and Dr. Box, for your leadership during these challenging times. We look forward to playing our part in advancing Indiana towards a sense of normalcy. Dr. Box, back to you.
I am pleased to introduce Dr. Nir Menachemi who is leading this population health scientific testing effort. Dr. Menachemi is the Fairbanks Endowed Chair of Public Health and leads our Department of Health Policy and Management. He is also a scientist at the Regenstrief Institute. Professor Menachemi is one of the most widely respected health services researchers in the country. Dr. Menachemi’s research has led to numerous organizational and societal decisions that have made enduring contributions to improving people’s health in Indiana and beyond.
Participation
Individuals were selected by a computer algorithm. Because this study is carefully designed to be a representative sample of our state, only those people who were randomly selected will be able to participate in this study. If you are chosen, we hope that you will participate.
Individual results
If you participated in the random sample test and have not received your results, please call (877) 826-0011 and select the "provider" option.
Media
- Study estimates 10.6% of all Hoosiers have been infected with COVID-19 at least once as of Nov. 20
Indiana Daily Student, November 30, 2020 | Nir Menachemi - More Than 10 Percent Of Hoosiers Have Been Infected With COVID-19, Says Fairbanks Study
WBOI, November 29, 2020 | Nir Menachemi - Indiana University study reveals the deadly risk of planning on herd immunity
South Bend Tribune, November 27, 2020 | Nir Menachemi - Study: About 10% of Hoosiers have been infected by COVID-19
Greater Fort Wayne Business Weekly, November 26, 2020 | Nir Menachemi and Paul Halverson - Indiana University study reveals the deadly risk of planning on herd immunity
IndyStar, November 25, 2020 | Nir Menachemi - Leaders fear Thanksgiving surge
Fort Wayne Journal Gazette, November 25, 2020 | Nir Menachemi - What we learned from the governor's coronavirus news conference this week
IndyStar, November 25, 2020 | Nir Menachemi - Indiana far from 'herd immunity'
The Herald Bulletin, November 25, 2020 | Nir Menachemi and Paul Halverson - Results of Statewide COVID-19 Study Released
Inside Indiana Business, November 25, 2020 | Nir Menachemi - Fairbanks study shows possibility of super-spreader Thanksgiving
Tribune Star, November 25, 2020 | Nir Menachemi - Study finds 10.6% of Hoosiers have been infected by COVID-19; Indiana nowhere close to 'herd immunity'
The Times of Northwest Indiana, November 25, 2020 | Nir Menachemi - State study says 1 in 10 Hoosiers have been infected with COVID-19
The Republic, November 25, 2020 | Nir Menachemi - Fairbanks Study Suggests That Almost 11% of Hoosiers Have Been Infected with COVID-19
WKVI, November 25, 2020 | Nir Menachemi and Paul Halverson - Fairbanks study reveals new info ahead of possible super-spreader Thanksgiving
The Statehouse File, November 25, 2020 | Nir Menachemi and Paul Halverson - Holiday spike could put counties in severe COVID spread
Princeton Daily Clarion, November 24, 2020 | Nir Menachemi and Paul Halverson - First Statewide, Random Sample Study of COVID-19 Fatality IDs Risk by Age, Gender and Ethnicity
BioSpace, October 6, 2020 | Justin Blackburn and Nir Menachemi - First statewide COVID-19 study to include children
WTHR, September 29, 2020 | Nir Menachemi - Statewide COVID-19 Testing Set To Begin Third Phase, Include Children
NPR Lakeshore Public Radio, September 28, 2020 | Nir Menachemi - What Is The Death Rate For Covid-19 Coronavirus? What This Study Found
Forbes, September 26, 2020 | Justin Blackburn, Constantin Yiannoutsos, Paul Halverson, Nir Menachemi - Phase 3 of COVID study set to begin
WISH TV, September 24, 2020 | Nir Menachemi - It’s Not Easy to Get a Coronavirus Test for a Child
The New York Times, September 8, 2020 | Nir Menachemi - Adverse Community Health Impact Rooted in Inequality
Indy Midtown Magazine, August 9, 2020 | Nir Menachemi - Assessing COVID-19 Prevalence in Indiana
New England Journal of Medicine, August 3, 2020 - A Mostly-Latinx City In Northwest Indiana Is Hit Hard By COVID-19
WBEZ, August 1, 2020 | Nir Menachemi - Measuring the prevalence SARS-CoV-2
ABC Health Report, July 27, 2020 | Nir Menachemi - While you were sleeping: Coronavirus updates for July 27
CBS4, July 27, 2020 | Nir Menachemi - COVID-19 in Indiana
WOWO HealthCall Live, July 25, 2020 | Nir Menachemi - Random Sampling Suggests COVID-19 Is 6 Times Deadlier Than the Flu
Newsmax Health, July 24, 2020 | Nir Menachemi - Health chief: COVID's here, do the right things
Tribune-Star, July 23, 2020 | Nir Menachemi - Fairbanks study finds COVID-19 infection rate 10X greater than previously thought
Fox 59, July 22, 2020 | Nir Menachemi - If you think you might have had COVID-19, but are unsure, should you get tested?
Nuvo, June 29, 2020 | Nir Menachemi - Masks are critical but not enough. 3 more things Arizona must do to slow COVID-19 spread
Arizona Republic, June 26, 2020 | Nir Menachemi - Our Opinion: Be cautious, don't ignore reality of the coronavirus
South Bend Tribune, June 21, 2020 | Nir Menachemi - Study shows fewer active COVID-19 infections, more antibodies
Monticello Herald Journal, June 19, 2020 - Data hopeful in statewide virus study
Fort Wayne Journal Gazette, June 18, 2020 - State announces study findings
Current, June 18, 2020 - Fairbanks Study: Fewer Active COVID-19 Cases In State
Ink Free News, June 18, 2020 - Study shows fewer active COVID-19 cases in Indiana
Local News Digital, June 18, 2020 - Indiana's random testing study finds COVID-19 spread has slowed in recent weeks
WLKY, June 18, 2020 - COVID-19 Grip on Indiana Loosening
95.3 MNC, June 18, 2020 - Testing project finds Indiana has fewer coronavirus cases than a month ago
WISH-TV, June 17, 2020 | Nir Menachemi - Fairbanks study indicates that 'virus has slowed its spread' in Indiana
IndyStar, June 17, 2020 - Indiana coronavirus cases surpass 41,000: test studies show fewer active infections
South Bend Tribune, June 17, 2020 - Fairbanks Study: Fewer Active COVID-19 Cases in State
Inside Indiana Business, June 17, 2020 - IUPUI Study: Coronavirus Down But Not Out In Indiana
WIBC, June 17, 2020 - An encouraging report on COVID-19 in Indiana
WRTV, June 17, 2020 - Indiana coronavirus updates
WTHR, June 17, 2020 - Coronavirus Response
WXIX, June 17, 2020 - COVID-19 Phase 2 Results
Fox 59, June 17, 2020 - Real Indiana COVID-19 infection rate drops sharply, researchers say
WDRB, June 17, 2020 - Number of Hoosiers with Active COVID-19 Infections Decreasing, According to Fairbanks Study
WKVI, June 17, 2020 - IU health school’s COVID-19 study finds virus spread slowing, minority communities ‘hit harder’
WANE, June 17, 2020 - Study: COVID-19 spread slowing in Indiana
KPC News, June 17, 2020 - Phase 2 Results of COVID-19 Testing
Tristate Homepage, June 17, 2020 - COVID-19 Testing
Princeton Daily Clarion, June 17, 2020 - State COVID-19 testing comes to Shipshewana Monday
KPC News, June 6, 2020 | Nir Menachemi - Phase 2 of COVID-19 testing study to begin Wednesday
Fox 59, June 2, 2020 | Nir Menachemi - Fairbanks launches round 2 of COVID testing research
WISH-TV, June 2, 2020 - How many Covid-19 patients have no symptoms? More than you might think.
Advisory Board, June 1, 2020 | Nir Menachemi - Coronavirus Less Deadly Than First Thought, Tests Show 1% Fatality Rate
International Business Times, May 28, 2020 | Nir Menachemi - New Data Shows The Coronavirus Is Less Lethal Than First Thought
NPR Science, May 27, 2020 | Nir Menachemi - As Trump fails to act, Indiana leads the way in COVID-19 testing
NUVO, May 27, 2020 | Nir Menachemi - Coronavirus antibody testing is not useful yet, IU experts suggest
Indiana Daily Student, May 19, 2020 | Nir Menachemi - Impact of COVID-19 in Indiana
Inside Indiana Business, May 17, 2020 | Nir Menachemi - Studies help Hoosiers better predict what’s to come with COVID-19
Fox 59, May 14, 2020 | Nir Menachemi - Too Many States Are Flying Blind Into Reopening. Not Indiana.
New York Times, May 13, 2020 - Study Estimates 2.8% Coronavirus Infection Rate for Indiana
US News & World Report | San Francisco Chronicle | Dubois County Hearld, May 13, 2020 - Fairbanks study estimates 186K Hoosiers infected with coronavirus
IndyStar, May 13, 2020 - UPDATE: An estimated 186,000-plus Hoosiers have or had COVID-19, new study says
IBJ, May 13, 2020 - Fairbanks Study on COVID-19 Released
Inside Indiana Business, May 13, 2020 - Study Suggests 186,000 Hoosiers With COVID-19; Nearly Half Without Symptoms
WFYI, May 13, 2020 - Study: More Than 180K Hoosiers Have Already Had Coronavirus
WIBC, May 13, 2020 - 11 times more Hoosiers infected with COVID-19 than testing suggests, study finds
The Times of Northwest Indiana, May 13, 2020 - Fairbanks School of Public Health announce COVID-19 study results
My Wabash Valley, May 13, 2020 - Study: About 3% of Hoosiers have been infected with COVID-19
KPC News, May 13, 2020 - State announces study findings, estimated coronavirus prevalence
Current in Carmel, May 13, 2020 - During governor's press conference, officials release findings of COVID-19 study
ABC57, May 13, 2020 - State officials break down coronavirus study; nearly 45% who tested positive in Indiana were asymptomatic
CBS4, May 13, 2020 - Holcomb, officials share COVID-19 study showing nearly 45% of positive Hoosiers had no symptoms
Fox 59, May 13, 2020 - Indiana study estimates 186,000 Hoosiers had contracted COVID-19 by late April
WDRB, May 13, 2020 - Study finds 2.8% of Hoosiers infected with COVID-19
WFIE, May 13, 2020 - Study: 186,000 Hoosiers positive for virus; infection-fatality rate estimated at 1 in 173 cases
WISH-TV, May 13, 2020 - Study suggests as many as 186K Hoosiers impacted by COVID-19 by May 1
WRTV, May 13, 2020 - State partners with IU school on COVID-19 study, opens site in Franklin
Daily Journal, April 29, 2020 - Coronavirus testing site set up in Muncie
The Star Press, April 28, 2020 - Indiana to conduct random sample testing for COVID-19 for scientific study
WHAS, April 27, 2020 - Antibody testing begins for thousands of Hoosiers
WISH-TV, April 25, 2020 - Random Sample Testing
WOWO HealthCall LIVE, April 25, 2020 - Why antibody testing is crucial in the fight against COVID-19
Fox 59, April 24, 2020 - 'One of the first in the country to do this': IU coronavirus study will test random people
IndyStar | April 24, 2020 - State, Fairbanks school partner to determine spread of virus in Indiana
IBJ | April 23, 2020 - Gov. Holcomb announces study to better understand COVID-19 impact on certain populations
Fox 59 | April 23, 2020 - Indiana officials to start randomly selecting residents for new COVID-19 testing
Fox 19 | April 23, 2020 - IUPUI to Conduct Broad-Based Study of Virus's Spread
WIBC | April 23, 2020 - Study could help officials make decision on when to reopen Indiana
WSBT | April 23, 2020 - State Partners With Fairbanks School On Widespread COVID-19 Study
Indiana Public Media | April 23, 2020 - Indiana launches COVID-19 study to gauge 'true prevalence' of illness
WDRB | April 23, 2020 - State, IU partner for COVID-19 study as cities develop own testing plans
The Statehouse File | April 23, 2020 - State, Fairbanks School Partner to Determine Spread of Virus in Indiana
NUVO | April 23, 2020