Indiana reports surge in COVID cases, 170 more deaths

  • Comments
  • Print
Listen to this story

Subscriber Benefit

As a subscriber you can listen to articles at work, in the car, or while you work out. Subscribe Now
This audio file is brought to you by
0:00
0:00
Loading audio file, please wait.
  • 0.25
  • 0.50
  • 0.75
  • 1.00
  • 1.25
  • 1.50
  • 1.75
  • 2.00

The Indiana State Department of Health on Tuesday reported a surge in statewide COVID-19 cases, hospitalizations and deaths.

The state reported 170 more deaths from the virus, raising Indiana’s official pandemic death toll to 18,280. The deaths were reported to the department on Monday and took place from Dec. 16 to Dec. 27. The seven-day average of deaths rose to 31 per day.

The health department reported 5,815 new cases of COVID-19, up from 1,862 cases on Monday. That’s the highest case count in the daily update since 6,164 cases were reported on Dec. 1. Marion County reported 1,111 new cases and 16 more deaths.

The state reported 3,058 hospitalizations on Monday, up from 2,982 the previous day. That matches the year’s highest mark, which was last seen on Dec. 14.

COVID patients occupy 38.7% of Indiana’s intensive care unit beds. Taking into account the 48.4% of ICU beds in use for other reasons, the percentage of available ICU beds statewide is 12.8%.

More than 3.54 million Hoosiers had been fully vaccinated against COVID-19 as of Tuesday at 5 a.m. More than 1.3 million Hoosiers have gotten vaccine boosters.

The department said 59.2% of Indiana residents 12 and older are fully vaccinated.

COVID-19 cases

*New COVID-19 cases: 5,815

Total cumulative cases: 1,227,005

COVID-19 deaths

New deaths: 170

Total cumulative deaths: 18,280

COVID-19 testing

New tested individuals: 7,180

Total cumulative tested individuals: 4,728,751

Cumulative positivity rate unique individuals: 25.7%

Cumulative positivity rate all tests: 9%

Seven-day positivity rate unique individuals: 24%**

Seven-day positivity rate all tests: 13.9%**

** 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: 159,230 (increase of 1,111)

Marion County new deaths: 16

Marion County cumulative deaths: 2,354

Marion County 7-day positivity rate unique individuals: 22.7%

Marion County 7-day positivity rate all tests: 14.9%

Hamilton County cumulative cases: 56,639

Hendricks County cumulative cases: 28,736

Johnson County cumulative cases: 30,264

Madison County cumulative cases: 23,473

Boone County cumulative cases: 10,795

Hancock County cumulative cases: 14,669

Morgan County cumulative cases: 11,451

Shelby County cumulative cases: 9,393

COVID-19 vaccinations

Statewide totals (Dec. 14, 2020–Dec. 28, 2021)

First dose administered: 3,611,838 (daily increase of 4,808)

Fully vaccinated: 3,545,779 (daily increase of 3,480)

Booster doses: 1,321,922 (daily increase of 14,317)

Indiana intensive care unit usage

ICU beds in use by COVID-19 patients: 38.7%

Available ICU beds: 12.8%

Please enable JavaScript to view this content.

Story Continues Below

Editor's note: You can comment on IBJ stories by signing in to your IBJ account. If you have not registered, please sign up for a free account now. Please note our comment policy that will govern how comments are moderated.

9 thoughts on “Indiana reports surge in COVID cases, 170 more deaths

  1. Why did the CDC just update the definition of a vaccine from “preventing a disease and the transmission of said disease “ to now just mitigating symptoms and use as a therapeutic???
    The goalpost keeps moving. Why can’t we get a second opinion other than Fauchi?

    1. Bernard, Please share your source for what you shared about the CDC’s definition of a vaccine.

      This is from the CDC website regarding COVID-19:
      “Vaccines reduce the risk of COVID-19, including the risk of severe illness and death among people who are fully vaccinated. In addition to data from clinical trials, evidence from real-world vaccine effectiveness studies show that COVID-19 vaccines help protect against COVID-19 infections, with or without symptoms (asymptomatic infections).
      https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/effectiveness/work.html

    1. Mark, the state health department updates cumulative statistics about breakthrough cases once a week and we frequently report them. Here’s the latest: 101,623 breakthrough cases, 1,983 breakthrough hospitalizations and 1,071 breakthrough deaths. These reflect total figures as of Dec. 21.

    2. Mark, sounding like Todd Rokita is not the smart play here.

      Life advice – if you’re in alignment with Todd Rokita, you’ve made the wrong choice.

  2. No doubt, the virus is real and can effect people with underlying conditions and/or simply in poor physical shape and health…REGARDLESS OF VACCINATION STATUS. However, until Died “from” or Died “with” is clarified and ACCURATELY reported, these numbers mean squat!

    Remind me again why exercise and proper nutrition aren’t being recommended?

Get the best of Indiana business news. ONLY $1/week Subscribe Now

Get the best of Indiana business news. ONLY $1/week Subscribe Now

Get the best of Indiana business news. ONLY $1/week Subscribe Now

Get the best of Indiana business news. ONLY $1/week Subscribe Now

Get the best of Indiana business news.

Limited-time introductory offer for new subscribers

ONLY $1/week

Cancel anytime

Subscribe Now

Already a paid subscriber? Log In

Get the best of Indiana business news.

Limited-time introductory offer for new subscribers

ONLY $1/week

Cancel anytime

Subscribe Now

Already a paid subscriber? Log In

Get the best of Indiana business news.

Limited-time introductory offer for new subscribers

ONLY $1/week

Cancel anytime

Subscribe Now

Already a paid subscriber? Log In

Get the best of Indiana business news.

Limited-time introductory offer for new subscribers

ONLY $1/week

Cancel anytime

Subscribe Now

Already a paid subscriber? Log In