Indiana’s death toll from COVID-19 surpasses 800

The Indiana State Department of Health on Sunday said the number of positive cases for COVID-19 in the state has risen to 15,012, following the emergence of 617 more cases.

The count was down from those reported by the department the previous two days, when consecutive daily highs were reported.

The state reported 715 new cases on Saturday, 641 on Friday, 601 on Thursday, 341 on Wednesday, 411 on Tuesday and 476 on Monday.

The state said Sunday that the cumulative death toll in the state rose to 813, up from 785 the previous day—an increase of 28.

About 90% of the deaths involve those who are age 60 or older. About 71% of those who have died are older than 70.

The state reported that 81,708 people have been tested so far, up from 79,744 in Saturday’s report—an increase of 1,964 tests. That’s the lowest number of new tests reported in a daily report since April 14.

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 4,796 cumulative cases—up from 4,727 the previous day, an increase of 69 cases.

The state reported 259 cumulative deaths in Marion County, up from 255 in Saturday’s report. The state said 22,373 people have been tested in the county.

As for surrounding counties, Hamilton had 704 positive cases; Johnson 533; Hendricks 644; Boone 182; Hancock 178; Madison 394; Morgan 131; and Shelby 180.

Every Indiana county has at least one case.

The department said 43.2% of the state’s intensive care unit beds were still available. About 18% are being used by COVID-19 patients.

The department also said 78.9% of the state’s ventilators were available. About 10% 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 Sunday morning, 940,797 cases had been reported in the United States, with 54,001 deaths, according to a running tally maintained by health researchers at Johns Hopkins University & Medicine. More than 105,823 people have recovered.

More than 2.9 million cases have been reported globally, with 203,622 deaths. More than 828,400 people have recovered.