Cases, deaths, hospitalizations and positivity rates declined nearly every day this week, according to the Indiana Department of Health (IDOH).
Indiana began the year averaging 74 COVID-19 deaths a day with a positivity rate of 16%. As of Wednesday, the state averaged 42 deaths a day with a 15.3% seven-day positivity rate. Indiana’s average number of cases did rise from 4,444 on Jan. 1 to 5,394 on Jan. 10, before trending down this week. Hospitalizations have seen the most fluctuation, peaking in the new year at 2,907 on Jan. 4 but since falling to 2,440.
IDOH reported 4,411 new cases and 40 new deaths Thursday, increasing state totals to 578,494 cases and 8,830 deaths. Indiana has administered more than 6.2 million tests on nearly 2.8 million Hoosiers.
COVID-19 patients occupy 25.5% of Indiana’s ICU beds, with 25.2% still available.
READ MORE: Officials Defend Vaccine Rollout After Opening To Hoosiers 70+: 'Our System Is Working'
In Monroe County, the IDOH reported Thursday 72 new cases and two new deaths. These increase county totals to 8,933 cases and 105 deaths. Monroe County has recorded eight virus-related deaths so far this month.
The county has administered more than 240,000 tests on 74,068 residents, with a seven-day positivity rate of 5.9% — the county’s lowest positivity rate in three weeks.
More than half of the ICU beds available for Monroe Country residents remain open, while COVID-19 patients occupy another 19.2%.
For the latest news and resources about COVID-19, bookmark our Coronavirus In Indiana page here .
