Indiana reports another 501 COVID-19 cases as testing hits new high

The Indiana State Department of Health on Monday said the number of positive cases for COVID-19 in the state has risen to 24,627 following the emergence of 501 more cases.

The state reported 394 new cases on Sunday, 586 on Saturday, 643 on Friday, 633 on Thursday, 837 on Wednesday and 526 on Tuesday.

The department said Monday that the cumulative death toll in the state rose to 1,411, up from 1,379 the previous day—an increase of 32.

More than 91% of the total deaths involve those who are age 60 or older. About 75% of those who have died are older than 70. Men account for 52% of the deaths.

The state reported that 146,688 people have been tested so far, up from 140,029 in Sunday’s report—an increase of 6,659. That’s the first time the state has reported more than 6,000 new tests in a daily report. The previous high was 5,558 in Saturday’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.

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 reported 7,510 cumulative cases—up from 7,336 the previous day, an increase of 174 cases.

The county’s cumulative death toll rose to 423, up from 416 in Sunday’s report.

The state said 35,084 people have been tested in the county.

As for surrounding counties, Hamilton had 936 positive cases; Johnson 827; Hendricks 973; Boone 226; Hancock 270; Madison 509; Morgan 208; and Shelby 272.

Every Indiana county has at least three cases.

The department said 42.6% of the state’s intensive care unit beds were still available. About 17.1% are being used by COVID-19 patients.

The department also said 81.1% of the state’s ventilators were available. About 7% were 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.

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

As of Monday morning, more than 1.33 million cases had been reported in the United States, with 79,607 deaths, according to a running tally maintained by health researchers at Johns Hopkins University & Medicine. More than 216,100 people have recovered.

More than 4.1 million cases have been reported globally, with 283,526 deaths. More than 1.38 million people have recovered.