State health department reports daily high in COVID-19 testing

The Indiana State Department of Health on Thursday said the number of positive cases of COVID-19 in the state has risen to 36,096. That marks an increase of 384 cases over the cumulative number—35,712—the department reported on Wednesday.

The state reported an increase of 475 cases on Wednesday, 407 cases on Tuesday, 256 on Monday, 363 cases on Sunday, 653 on Saturday, and 490 on Friday.

The department said Thursday that the cumulative death toll in the state rose to 2,052, up from 2,032 the previous day—an increase of 20.

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 285,234 people have been tested so far, up from 277,815 in Wednesday’s report—an increase of 7,419. That’s the largest number of new testing ever contained in the daily report, topping 7,257 on May 21.

The state said 12.7% 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 Thursday reported 10,095 cumulative cases—up from 10,037 the previous day, an increase of 58 cases.

The county’s cumulative death toll was 598, up from 594 in Tuesday’s report.

The state said 57,172 people have been tested in the county.

As for surrounding counties, Hamilton had 1,183 positive cases; Johnson 1,121; Hendricks 1,192; Boone 324; Hancock 351; Madison 599; Morgan 284; and Shelby 397.

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

The department said 37.5% of the state’s intensive care unit beds were still available. About 14.6% are being used by COVID-19 patients.

The department also said 82.7% of the state’s ventilators were available, with 4.7% 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.