State health officials reported Tuesday that Indiana has confirmed more than half a million COVID-19 cases since March 6.
The Indiana State Department of Health documented 4,028 new cases and 164 new deaths — a record-high — increasing state totals to 500,282 cases and 7,703 deaths since the pandemic began. Current data indicates nearly 70 Hoosiers die every day from the virus.
Indiana reported 100,000 new COVID-19 cases in 19 days, following a similar pattern to the previous two months.
In that same time period, positive cases continued to outpace new tests. Cases increased by nearly 24 percent, and testing grew by 17.3 percent.
In the last week – including the holiday weekend – the Indiana Department of Health reported more than 28,000 new cases.
Of the state’s 500,282 total positive cases, 76.5 percent were reported after the state moved to Stage 5 of its reopening plan, in late September.
Indiana’s seven-day positivity rate also rose slightly to 11.8%. The state has administered more than 5.5 million tests.
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According to the ISDH, 2,951 Hoosiers are hospitalized due to the virus, and COVID-19 patients occupy 30% of the state’s ICU beds, with just less than 25% still available.
In Monroe County, the ISDH confirmed 54 new cases and four new deaths, increasing county totals to 7,891 cases and 92 deaths. December has been Monroe County’s deadliest month of the pandemic with 40 virus-related deaths — more than triple the 13 that occurred in November.
Monroe County has administered nearly 220,000 tests with a 7.7% seven-day positivity rate.
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