State reports 428 more COVID-19 cases, 49 more deaths

The Indiana State Department of Health on Wednesday said the number of presumptive positive cases for COVID-19 in the state has risen to 8,955 after the emergence of 428 more cases.

The department reported the state’s first case March 6.

The state said Wednesday that the death toll in the state rose to 436, up from 387 the previous day, an increase of 49.

The numbers were higher than Tuesday’s figures, when 291 new cases and 37 more deaths were reported.

Deaths and positive cases are not always reported immediately, which means the numbers can move inconsistently day to day.

The state reported that 48,396 people have been tested so far, up from 46,017 in Tuesday’s report. 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.

Marion County reported 3,204 cases — up from 3,063 the previous day, an increase of 141 cases. The state reported 155 cumulative deaths in Marion County, up from 141 on Monday. The state said 15,933 people have been tested in the county.

As for surrounding counties, Hamilton had 510 positive cases; Johnson 347; Hendricks 360; Boone 129; Hancock 129; Madison 273; Morgan 105 and Shelby 79.

Every Indiana county has at least one case.

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

Health officials say Indiana has far more coronavirus cases — possibly thousands more — than those indicated by the number of tests.

As of Wednesday morning, 609,995 cases had been reported in the United States, with 24,429 deaths, according to a running tally maintained by health researchers at Johns Hopkins University & Medicine. More than 50,000 people have recovered.

More than 2 million cases have been reported globally, with 130,528 deaths. More than 501,000 people have recovered.