State reports 475 more COVID-19 cases, 12 additional deaths

The Indiana State Department of Health on Sunday said the number of positive cases of COVID-19 in the state has risen to 31,376, following the emergence of 475 more cases.

The state reported 492 new cases on Saturday, 473 new cases on Friday, 662 on Thursday, 569 on Wednesday, 450 on Tuesday, and 477 on Monday.

The department said Sunday that the cumulative death toll in the state rose to 1,824, up from 1,812 the previous day—an increase of 12.

The health department typically reports fewer cases and deaths in its daily COVID-19 report on Sundays.

More than 91% of the total deaths involve those who are age 60 or older. More than 75% of those who have died are older than 70. Only 3% of the deaths have involved someone younger than 50.

According to the report, 732 deaths—or 45% of the state’s total—involved long-term care facilities, as of May 18.

The state said 220,801 people have been tested so far, up from 214,933 in Saturday’s report—an increase of 5,868.

Daily testing has topped 5,000 for 11 straight days and in 17 of the last 20 days.

The state said 14.2% of those tested so far have been positive for COVID-19.

The ISDH said the test numbers reflect only those tests reported to the department and the numbers should not be characterized as a comprehensive total.

Health officials say Indiana has far more coronavirus cases—probably tens of thousands more—than those indicated by the number of official tests. A study announced May 13 estimated at least 186,000 Hoosiers have or had COVID-19 through the end of April.

New positive cases, deaths and tests have occurred over a range of dates but were reported to the department in the previous day.

The department reported the state’s first case on March 6 and first death from COVID-19 on March 16.

Marion County on Sunday reported 9,132 cumulative cases—up from 9,040 the previous day, an increase of 92 cases.

The county’s cumulative death toll rose to 533, up from 531 in Saturday’s report.

The state said 47,364 people have been tested in the county.

As for surrounding counties, Hamilton had 1,096 positive cases; Johnson 1,080; Hendricks 1,117; Boone 281; Hancock 317; Madison 580; Morgan 258; and Shelby 312.

Pike County has five cases, but every other Indiana county has at least eight.

The department said 37.5% of the state’s intensive care unit beds were still available. About 15.6% are being used by COVID-19 patients.

The department also said 82.6% of the state’s ventilators were available, with 5.6% being used for COVID-19 patients.

The health department is providing case updates daily at noon based on results received through 11:59 p.m. the previous day.

As of Sunday morning, more than 1.62 million cases had been reported in the United States, with 97,149 deaths, according to a running tally maintained by health researchers at Johns Hopkins University & Medicine. More than 361,200 people have recovered.

More than 5.34 million cases have been reported globally, with 342,695 deaths. More than 2.1 million people have recovered.