Subscriber Benefit
As a subscriber you can listen to articles at work, in the car, or while you work out. Subscribe NowHospitalizations due to COVID-19 in Indiana are continuing to climb, according to the latest figures from the Indiana State Department of Health.
Meanwhile on Wednesday, the department reported another 87 deaths from COVID-19, raising the total death toll to 17,649. The state has reported 177 deaths over the past two days. The seven-day average of deaths from COVID rose from 28 to 31 per day.
The department said reported COVID hospitalizations rose from 3,020 on Monday to 3,058 on Tuesday. That’s the highest mark since Dec. 22, when hospitalizations reached 3,123. The pandemic high was 3,460 on Nov. 20, 2020.
Hospitalizations from COVID have climbed 32% since Dec. 1 and 129% over the past month.
COVID patients now occupy 32.9% of Indiana’s intensive care unit beds.
Indiana University Health, the state’s largest hospital system, said Wednesday that it was currently caring for 496 COVID patients throughout its system.
Last week, IU Health requested assistance from the Indiana National Guard for most of its hospitals (except Riley Children’s Hospital). As of Wednesday, the Guard was supporting 13 of its 16 hospitals statewide with six-person teams.
“Their presence in our hospitals has already made a tremendous impact in supporting our team members and allowing our providers to continue to provide high quality patient care,” said IU Health Chief Clinical Officer Dr. Chris Weaver in written remarks.
The state health department reported 4,732 new cases of COVID, up from 4,057 the previous day. The seven-day moving average of cases is at 4,410 per day.
More than 3.5 million Hoosiers had been fully vaccinated against COVID-19 as of Wednesday at 5 a.m. after a daily increase of 4,484. More than 1.1 million Hoosiers have gotten vaccine boosters.
The department said 60.9% of Indiana residents 18 and older are fully vaccinated.
COVID-19 cases
*New COVID-19 cases: 4,732
Total cumulative cases: 1,170,950
COVID-19 deaths
New deaths: 87
Total cumulative deaths: 17,649
COVID-19 testing
New tested individuals: 7,740
Total cumulative tested individuals: 4,639,958
Cumulative positivity rate unique individuals: 25.1%
Cumulative positivity rate all tests: 8.8%
Seven-day positivity rate unique individuals: 26.1%**
Seven-day positivity rate all tests: 14.1%**
** 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: 150,874 (increase of 397)
Marion County new deaths: 9
Marion County cumulative deaths: 2,296
Marion County 7-day positivity rate unique individuals: 21.3%
Marion County 7-day positivity rate all tests: 11.9%
Hamilton County cumulative cases: 53,639
Hendricks County cumulative cases: 27,452
Johnson County cumulative cases: 28,836
Madison County cumulative cases: 22,220
Boone County cumulative cases: 10,269
Hancock County cumulative cases: 13,810
Morgan County cumulative cases: 10,928
Shelby County cumulative cases: 8,881
COVID-19 vaccinations
Statewide totals (Dec. 14, 2020–Dec. 15, 2021)
First dose administered: 3,557,996 (daily increase of 5,107)
Fully vaccinated: 3,510,140 (daily increase of 4,484)
Booster doses: 1,115,503 (daily increase of 19,555)
Indiana intensive care unit usage
ICU beds in use by COVID-19 patients: 32.9%
Available ICU beds: 18.7%
Please enable JavaScript to view this content.
I didn’t realize DeSantis became our governor.