Indiana reports increase of 482 COVID-19 cases, 26 deaths

IBJ Staff, IL Staff

The Indiana State Department of Health on Friday said the number of positive cases of COVID-19 in the state has risen to 36,578. That marks an increase of 482 cases over the cumulative number — 36,096 — the department reported on Thursday.

The state reported an increase of 384 cases on Thursday, 475 on Wednesday, 407 on Tuesday, 256 on Monday, 363 cases on Sunday and 653 on Saturday.

The department said Friday that the cumulative death toll in the state rose to 2,078, up from 2,052 the previous day — an increase of 26.

Nearly 92% of the total deaths involve those who are age 60 or older. More than 75% of those who have died are older than 70. Only 2.9% of the deaths have involved someone younger than 50.

According to the report, 945 deaths — or 47.8% of the state’s total — involved long-term care patients, as of Monday. The state said 150 facilities have experienced at least one COVID-19 death.

The state said 291,638 people have been tested so far, up from 285,234 in Thursday’s report — an increase of 6,404.

The state said 12.5% of those tested so far have been positive for COVID-19.

The ISDH said the test numbers reflect only those tests reported to the department and the numbers should not be characterized as a comprehensive total.

Health officials say Indiana has far more coronavirus cases — probably tens of thousands more — than those indicated by the number of official tests. A study announced May 13 estimated at least 186,000 Hoosiers have or had COVID-19 through the end of April.

New positive cases, deaths and tests have occurred over a range of dates but were reported to the department in the previous day.

The department reported the state’s first case on March 6 and first death from COVID-19 on March 16.

Marion County on Friday reported 10,188 cumulative cases — up from 10,095 the previous day, an increase of 93 cases.

The county’s cumulative death toll was 604, up from 598 in Thursday’s report.

The state said 58,269 people have been tested in the county.

As for surrounding counties, Hendricks has 1,204 positive cases; Hamilton 1,191; Johnson 1,125; Madison 600; Shelby 397; Hancock 354; Boone 324; and Morgan 286.

Pike County has six cases, but every other Indiana county has at least 10.

Elsewhere in the state, counties with at least 275 cases include Lake (3,876); Allen (1,810); Cass (1,591); Elkhart (1,585); St. Joseph (1,358); Porter (562); Clark (539); Bartholomew (531); LaPorte (448); Howard (442); Tippecanoe (434); Jackson (401); Delaware (397); Floyd (319); Vanderburgh (291); and Noble (278).

The department said 36.6% of the state’s intensive care unit beds were still available. About 14% are being used by COVID-19 patients.

The department also said 83% of the state’s ventilators were available, with 4.9% being used for COVID-19 patients.

The health department is providing case updates daily at noon based on results received through 11:59 p.m. the previous day.