Indiana COVID-19 hospitalizations hit lowest mark since first month of pandemic

Statewide hospitalizations due to COVID-19 have fallen to their lowest point since the first month of the pandemic, according to the latest figures from the Indiana State Department of Health.

The department on Wednesday said 360 people were hospitalized with COVID in Indiana as of Tuesday. That’s smallest number since March 2020, when coronavirus cases first began showing up in Indiana.

Hospitalizations have plummeted 90% since hitting a pandemic high of 3,519 on Jan. 13. COVID patients occupy only 2.9% of Indiana’s intensive care unit beds.

State hospitals have seen major ebbs and flows in COVID patient counts since the beginning of the pandemic, hitting peaks above 3,400 in December 2020 and January 2021 and sinking as low as 548 in March 2020 and 369 in June 2021.

The state on Wednesday reported 288 new COVID cases, lifting the pandemic total to 1,689,663.

Another 22 COVID-19 deaths were reported, raising the pandemic toll to 22,416 in Indiana.

More than 3.69 million Hoosiers had been fully vaccinated against COVID-19 as of Wednesday at 5 a.m. More than 1.73 million Hoosiers have gotten vaccine boosters.

The department said 60.7% of Indiana residents 12 and older and 62.7% of residents 18 and older are fully vaccinated.

COVID-19 cases

New COVID-19 cases: 288

Total cumulative cases: 1,689,663

COVID-19 deaths

New deaths: 22

Total cumulative deaths: 22,416

COVID-19 testing

New tests administered: 20,669

Total tests administered: 19,320,684

Seven-day positivity rate all tests: 2.3%

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

County numbers

Marion County cumulative cases: 224,558 (increase of 30)

Marion County new deaths: 3

Marion County cumulative deaths: 2,860

Marion County 7-day positivity rate all tests: 1.8%

Hamilton County cumulative cases: 81,638

Hendricks County cumulative cases: 40,672

Johnson County cumulative cases: 42,213

Madison County cumulative cases: 32,601

Boone County cumulative cases: 15,144

Hancock County cumulative cases: 20,612

Morgan County cumulative cases: 16,429

Shelby County cumulative cases: 13,568

COVID-19 vaccinations

Statewide totals (Dec. 14, 2020–March 23, 2022)

First dose administered: 3,761,621 (daily increase of 499)

Fully vaccinated: 3,697,663 (daily increase of 638)

Booster doses: 1,735,459 (daily increase of 1,153)

Indiana intensive care unit usage

ICU beds in use by COVID-19 patients: 2.9%

Available ICU beds: 21.1%