Indiana hospitalizations from COVID near seven-week high as case counts climb

Statewide hospitalizations due to COVID-19 have risen to their highest level in almost seven weeks amid a recent escalation in cases, according to the latest statistics from the Indiana State Department of Health.

Hospitalizations rose from 1,708 on Monday to 1,764 on Tuesday, the highest number since Oct. 7. They are up 36.7% since the beginning of the month. COVID patients occupy 19.4% of Indiana’s intensive care unit beds.

Another 51 deaths from COVID-19 were reported to the state on Tuesday, raising the total to 16,788. An average of 17 deaths have occurred daily over the past seven days.

The state health department also reported 3,200 more cases of COVID-19, increasing the pandemic total to 1,080,505. The moving average of daily cases has climbed from 1,660 at the beginning of the month to 3,175, an increase of 91.3%.

More than 3.4 million Hoosiers had been fully vaccinated against COVID-19 as of Tuesday at 5 a.m. after a daily increase of 1,886. Meanwhile, more than 721,000 Hoosiers have already gotten vaccine boosters.

The department said 60.3% of Indiana residents 18 and older are fully vaccinated.

COVID-19 cases

*New COVID-19 cases: 3,200

Total cumulative cases: 1,080,505

COVID-19 deaths

New deaths: 51

Total cumulative deaths: 16,788

COVID-19 testing

New tested individuals: 6,528

Total cumulative tested individuals: 4,489,417

Cumulative positivity rate unique individuals: 24%

Cumulative positivity rate all tests: 8.6%

Seven-day positivity rate unique individuals: 20.9%**

Seven-day positivity rate all tests: 10.8%**

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

COVID-19 vaccinations

Statewide totals (Dec. 14–Nov. 23)

First dose administered: 3,460,705 (daily increase of 4,036)

Fully vaccinated: 3,419,807 (daily increase of 1,886)

Booster doses: 721,508 (daily increase of 13,097)

County numbers

Marion County cumulative cases: 142,245 (increase of 317)

Marion County new deaths: 6

Marion County cumulative deaths: 2,214

Marion County 7-day positivity rate unique individuals: 15.6%

Marion County 7-day positivity rate all tests: 8.6%

Hamilton County cumulative cases: 49,364

Hendricks County cumulative cases: 25,451

Johnson County cumulative cases: 26,797

Madison County cumulative cases: 20,360

Boone County cumulative cases: 9,541

Hancock County cumulative cases: 12,588

Morgan County cumulative cases: 10,073

Shelby County cumulative cases: 7,912

Indiana intensive care unit usage

ICU beds in use by COVID-19 patients: 19.4%

Available ICU beds: 26.6%

U.S. and worldwide numbers

As of Tuesday, from Johns Hopkins University:

U.S. cases: 47,565,504

U.S. deaths: 773,079

Global cases: 258,589,392

Global deaths: 5,163,587