Indiana COVID-19 cases hit highest level in two months; hospitalizations rise

The Indiana State Department of Health on Tuesday reported 713 new COVID-19 cases—the largest number of new cases in the department’s daily report in nearly two months. The last time the count was so high was May 21, when 801 new cases were reported.

Statewide hospitalizations due to COVID-19 also are on the rise. Hospitalizations rose from 461 on Saturday to 493 on Sunday to 510 on Monday. That’s the highest level since June 15, when 532 people were hospitalized in Indiana due to the virus. The pandemic-high mark for hospitalizations was 3,460, set on Nov. 30.

The health department reported five new deaths from COVID-19 on Tuesday, raising the cumulative total to 13,530. The state said it has averaged one new death per day from COVID over the past seven days.

Health officials say the delta variant of the coronavirus continues to surge and is accounting for an estimated 83% of U.S. COVID-19 cases. Indiana said the delata variant is responsible for 72% of the new cases in the state, according to sampling for variants in positive cases.

The delta variant is a mutated coronavirus that spreads more easily than other versions. It was first detected in India but now has been identified around the world.

The state said more than 2.9 million Hoosiers have been fully vaccinated against COVID-19 after a daily increase of 4,232. More than 2.87 million had received the first dose of a two-dose vaccination.

Following are the latest COVID-19 numbers from the Indiana State Department of Health. The department updates its data daily based on information received through 11:59 p.m. the previous day. The department no longer issues reports on Saturday and Sunday.

COVID-19 cases

*New COVID-19 cases: 713

Total cumulative cases: 762,127

COVID-19 deaths

New deaths: 5

Total cumulative deaths: 13,530

New tested individuals: 2,557

Total cumulative tested individuals: 3,637,538

Cumulative positivity rate unique individuals: 21%

Cumulative positivity rate all tests: 8.4%

Seven-day positivity rate unique individuals: 5.4%**

Seven-day positivity rate all tests: 5.1%**

** The health department reports the 7-day positivity rates with a six-day lag to allow time for more comprehensive results.

COVID-19 vaccinations

Statewide totals (Dec. 14–July 20)

First dose administered: 2,872,825 (daily increase of 4,714)

Fully vaccinated: 2,902,532 (daily increase of 4,232)

County numbers       

Marion County cumulative cases: 104,632 (increase of 111)

Marion County new deaths: 0

Marion County cumulative deaths: 1,803

Marion County 7-day positivity rate unique individuals: 5%

Marion County 7-day positivity rate all tests: 5%

Hamilton County cumulative cases: 37,019

Hendricks County cumulative cases: 17,959

Johnson County cumulative cases: 18,687

Madison County cumulative cases: 13,407

Boone County cumulative cases: 7,123

Hancock County cumulative cases: 8,688

Morgan County cumulative cases: 6,862

Shelby County cumulative cases: 5,074

Indiana intensive care unit usage

Available ICU beds: 37.8%

ICU beds in use by COVID-19 patients: 4.8%

U.S. and worldwide numbers

As of Tuesday, from Johns Hopkins University:

U.S. cases: 34,137,733

U.S. deaths: 609,316

Global cases: 191,099,159

Global deaths: 4,099,677

*New cases, deaths and tests are previously unreported cases, deaths and tests submitted to the Indiana State Health Department in the 24 hours through 11:59 p.m. the previous day. The cases and testing categories typically contain numerous duplicates—as many as 20% or more—that are later eliminated from the cumulative totals.