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As a subscriber you can listen to articles at work, in the car, or while you work out. Subscribe NowThe Indiana State Department of Health on Wednesday said the number of positive cases for COVID-19 in the state has risen to 17,182, following the emergence of 594 more cases.
Meanwhile, new deaths and tests were the highest reported by the state in its daily update.
The number of new cases was lowest in the state’s daily report since last Wednesday, when it reported 341 new cases.
The state reported 627 new cases on Tuesday, 949 on Monday, 617 on Sunday, 715 on Saturday, 641 on Friday and 601 on Thursday.
The state said Wednesday that the cumulative death toll in the state rose to 964, up from 901 the previous day—an increase of 63.
That’s the largest number of deaths reported in the state’s daily report since the beginning of the pandemic. The previous high was 61 on April 21.
About 91% of the total deaths involve those who are age 60 or older. About 72% of those who have died are older than 70.
The state reported that 91,550 people have been tested so far, up from 87,181 in Monday’s report—an increase of 4,369 tests.
The increase marked a daily high in reported tests. The previous high was 4,269 on April 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.
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.
Marion County reported 5,295 cumulative cases—up from 5,080 the previous day, an increase of 215 cases.
The state reported 305 cumulative deaths in Marion County, up from 282 in Monday’s report.
The state said 24,000 people have been tested in the county.
As for surrounding counties, Hamilton had 746 positive cases; Johnson 563; Hendricks 658; Boone 186; Hancock 213; Madison 409; Morgan 140; and Shelby 194.
Every Indiana county has at least one case.
The department said 43.4% of the state’s intensive care unit beds were still available. About 17.5% are being used by COVID-19 patients.
The department also said 79.9% of the state’s ventilators were available. About 8% were 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.
Health officials say Indiana has far more coronavirus cases—possibly thousands more—than those indicated by the number of tests.
As of Wednesday morning, 1,015,289 cases had been reported in the United States, with 58,529 deaths, according to a running tally maintained by health researchers at Johns Hopkins University & Medicine. More than 115,950 people have recovered.
More than 3.14 million cases have been reported globally, with 218,649 deaths. More than 948,693 people have recovered.
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But opening the Castleton Square Mall this Saturday is a good decision? People aren’t going to be spending money but most just walking, socializing, milling around, etc and causing more spread. It was true before the virus and will be magnified this weekend and beyond. Not a good time to re-open an indoor mall when we’re reaching daily highs in positive cases and deaths. WI remains closed with not nearly the numbers we have. Go ahead and hate me. Don’t care.
Positive tests are going to rise for the indefinite future due to increased testing. Unfortunately the death numbers is now questionable data due to reporting methods. The vast majority of fatalities is 70 years +, with I suspect, other risk factors. The State is using a whopping 8% of ventilators for C-19.
Not hating, but seriously, what is your plan? At what point do you crack open the economy? Oh, and this is a guess, same as your prediction, but I think people WILL be spending money at the malls.
I am baffled by the rationale to reopen the state with the reasoning that we have beds and ventilators available. I don’t want to get sick. I am just an average joe citizen so these are just my opinions based on what I read daily from our trusted state resources. Our positive numbers are still climbing and leveling has been sporadic and not really a trend. We have no proven treatments and our fantastic nurses and doctors are doing an admirable job with challenging scenarios. It appears we’re still treating the symptoms and not the disease. The state withdrawing the “stay in place” order has a ton of legal ramifications for those who really want to keep others from getting sick or getting sick themselves. I am frustrated and scared. It just seems we’re re-opening for the wrong reasons.
I have concerns also, I believe there will be a second wave/peak with the re-openings. The problem, for me anyway, is that I don’t believe the “trusted state resources” since they changed their calculation methods a week or two ago by adding “presumptive deaths” into the numbers. At that point we had positive trends in both new daily cases and deaths, since then it’s been one record day after the other. They started doing this on the federal level also, which has caused death numbers to spike back up in the country’s totals also. As Chuck said, positive tests are going to rise as testing levels rise, so that is not an valid indicator, and now with “presumptive deaths” included, I don’t trust the death numbers. (doctors have even been given official guidance on how to properly fill out death certificates to make them Covid deaths) And, since we haven’t had testing since the beginning, we have no idea how many people have already had it and recovered without knowing they had it. (one New York study had it at 14% of 3,000 tested, or 420 people) With all that said, and whatever anyone says, we can all then make our own decisions about going out and about if the state is opened back up.
Deborah R., I think you have every right to feel the way you do. Your analysis is spot on. And, any people who want to stay home should do so. IMO, people should be free to stay at home until the virus is “eradicated” or a vaccination is approved- whenever that may be. But, people should also be free to start to move on with life, in the new normal. There is no timetable for a vaccination, eradication, etc. [Containment was never a realistic option with this virus.] We are going to have to live with it and adjust our behaviors. My hope is that Governor Holcomb issues a “no mask, no service” requirement to give businesses cover to require masks by patrons and employees. My other hope is that enough young, relatively healthy people get this virus, suffer little if any symptoms, and build up an immunity that lasts for at least a couple of months. We’ll see. We still don’t know a lot about this virus and its strains/mutations. Until we know more, pray for those who venture out that they are safe. (Kind of reminds me of the scene in Jaws, when Amity beachgoers didn’t want to venture into the ocean. We may see similarly horrific results from the loosening of restrictions. Let’s just hope and pray not.)
Why not get sick….at least *now*? If I’m going to get it, I’d rather get it before *everyone* has it and treatment comes down to available resources and a quick guess as to how viable you are. Now there are resources where they can break a sweat to help you survive, even if the focus is on the symptoms vs. a knowledge of the disease. Some sources say 80% of the US population will contract it, so why try to dodge an inevitable bullet and avoid the Christmas Rush?
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As far as why a reopening occurs, most people can’t make a cogent argument for a given date beyond boredom or fiat…and that goes for Captain Superlative as well.
Regarding the Simons opening their malls: As Rush Limbaugh famously says, “Follow the Money.” The wealthy Democrat Simons will do whatever they damn well please, the recommendations of any Governors, especially Republicans, be damned.
Bob P. –> Correct me if I’m wrong, but right now the governor has the state opening on Friday, so Simons isn’t going against anything republican or democrat at the moment…..
quoting the quotable nuclear scientist/physician/expert on everything Limbaugh as a reliable source!.
Hmmm!
(why i interjected myself into this, i do not know.)
You interjected yourself into this because you spotted two people offensive to you, Michael; me and Rush Limbaugh. Never mind what either of us had to say, we were automatically wrong just by virtue of being Bob P. and Rush Limbaugh, weren’t we? (And I’m sure you consider yourself to be among the most open-minded of posters to IBJ comments, right?)
Each individual must make a decision, Risk illness by visiting a mall or other location where social distancing may be difficult some may not be wearing masks or remain close to home and limit interaction. I do understand the desire to open businesses in an effort to benefit the economy. However, everyone is responsible for their health and each person should act responsibly to protect the health of others.