Statewide COVID-19 hospitalizations hit lowest level since July

Statewide hospitalizations due to COVID-19 have fallen to their lowest point since July, according to the latest figures from the Indiana State Department of Health.

The department on Wednesday said 559 people were hospitalized with COVID-19 in Indiana as of Tuesday, the smallest number since July 21.

Hospitalizations have plummeted 84% since hitting a pandemic high of 3,519 on Jan. 13. COVID patients occupy only 4.7% of Indiana’s intensive care unit beds, down from as high as 38% in mid-January.

The state reported 437 new COVID cases, including 48 in Marion County and 51 in Hamilton County. Shelby County reported just one new case.

Despite the decline in hospitalizations and cases, the virus is still claiming lives. Another 77 COVID deaths were reported on Wednesday, raising the pandemic total to 22,215 in Indiana.

More than 3.67 million Hoosiers had been fully vaccinated against COVID-19 as of Tuesday at 5 a.m. More than 1.69 million Hoosiers have gotten vaccine boosters.

The department said 60.6% of Indiana residents 12 and older and 62.6% of residents 18 and older are fully vaccinated.

COVID-19 cases

New COVID-19 cases: 437

Total cumulative cases: 1,685,997

COVID-19 deaths

New deaths: 77

Total cumulative deaths: 22,215

COVID-19 testing

New tests administered: 22,482

Total tests administered: 19,113,942

Seven-day positivity rate all tests: 3.4%**

** The health department reports the 7-day positivity rates with a six-day lag to allow time for more comprehensive results.

County numbers

Marion County cumulative cases: 224,077 (increase of 48)

Marion County new deaths: 10

Marion County cumulative deaths: 2,837

Marion County 7-day positivity rate all tests: 2.6%

Hamilton County cumulative cases: 81,431

Hendricks County cumulative cases: 40,618

Johnson County cumulative cases: 42,153

Madison County cumulative cases: 32,534

Boone County cumulative cases: 15,087

Hancock County cumulative cases: 20,584

Morgan County cumulative cases: 16,395

Shelby County cumulative cases: 13,548

COVID-19 vaccinations

Statewide totals (Dec. 14, 2020–March 9, 2022)

First dose administered: 3,757,134 (daily increase of 733)

Fully vaccinated: 3,689,953 (daily increase of 936)

Booster doses: 1,724,209 (daily increase of 989)

Indiana intensive care unit usage

ICU beds in use by COVID-19 patients: 4.7%

Available ICU beds: 19.9%