The Indiana State Department of Health reported a jump in COVID-19 positivity Wednesday.
Indiana’s seven-day positivity rate surged from 11.8% to 13.7%, and preliminary data predicts higher rates to come. The health department announced last week that they would alter how they calculated the seven-day positivity rate. Previously, the state calculated the rate by summing a week's worth of positivity rates and dividing by seven. They'll now determine the rate using daily positivity rates and the number of tests conducted over the span of a week.
The ISDH documented 4,819 new cases and 109 new deaths, increasing state totals to 505,017 cases and 7,812 deaths. On Tuesday, Indiana surpassed the 500,000-case mark, but following Christmas, the ISDH had reported a lull in case numbers and deaths, likely due to slow holiday reporting.
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The state has administered more than 5.6 million tests since the pandemic began, and COVID-19 patients occupy more than 30% of state ICU beds, while 21.7% remain available. More than 2,940 Hoosiers are hospitalized due to the virus.
In Monroe County, the ISDH reported 49 new cases and one new death. The county has recorded a total of 7,938 cases and 93 deaths. Monroe County has administered more than 220.000 tests with a 5.7% seven-day positivity rate.
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