Indiana health officials on Friday added 35 coronavirus deaths to the state’s total, bringing it to 741.
Most of the newly reported COVID-19 deaths occurred between Monday and Thursday, but one dated to April 2, the Indiana State Department of Health said.
Numbers in Monroe County remain largely unchanged, with the number of cases still at 118 and deaths still at six. Tests are still increasing, however, with 984 Monroe County residents now tested for the virus.
The state health commissioner said earlier this week that the Indiana fatality total could jump by several dozen as the agency would start including deaths that doctors blame on COVID-19 without confirmation of the illness from test results.
But Friday’s announcement includes no mention of those being added.
Gov. Eric Holcomb has talked about easing next week the business and travel restrictions in place under the statewide stay-at-home order if a surge in coronavirus cases doesn’t occur and cut into the capacity of hospitals to care for patients.
However, experts say most states, including Indiana, aren’t ready to think about reopening their economies.
READ MORE: Indiana Could See Resurgence Of COVID-19 If Economy Reopens Too Soon
The latest state statistics showed 621 COVID-19 patients were in the intensive care units of Indiana hospitals, which had 44% of their ICU beds available.
Coronavirus in Indiana, by the numbers
- 13,680 people have tested positive for COVID-19, which equates to about 400 more people than live in Bedford (pop. 13,285).
- 742 deaths have been reported, which would wipe out Shoals in Martin County (pop. 732) or Lyons in Greene County (pop. 733).
- 75,553 Hoosiers have been tested, roughly the number of people who live in Lafayette (pop. 72,444) and Bicknell (pop. 3,003).
- That amounts to 1.1 percent of Indiana’s population of 6.732 million.
Emma Atkinson and Bob Zaltsberg contributed to this story.
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