State sees steep drop in reported cases; nursing home deaths top 1,000

The Indiana State Department of Health on Monday said the number of positive cases of COVID-19 in the state has risen to 37,623. That marks an increase of 226 cases over the cumulative number—37,397—the department reported on Sunday.

That’s the smallest increase in cases in the department’s daily report since March 26, when they rose by 168. Case numbers have typically been lower on Mondays because of slower weekend reporting.

The state reported an increase of 400 cases on Sunday, 419 cases on Saturday, 482 on Friday, 384 on Thursday, 475 on Wednesday, 407 cases on Tuesday and 256 on Monday.

The department said Monday that the cumulative death toll in the state rose to 2,135, up from 2,121 the previous day—an increase of 14.

Nearly 92% of the total deaths involve those who are age 60 or older. More than 75% of those who have died are older than 70. Only 2.9% of the deaths have involved someone younger than 50.

According to the report, 1,011 deaths—or 47.4% of the state’s total—involved long-term-care patients. The state updates long-term-care numbers on Mondays. The state said 155 facilities have experienced at least one COVID-19 death and 250 have had at least one positive case.

The state said 309,503 people have been tested so far, up from 304,263 in Sunday’s report—an increase of 5,240.

The state said 12.2% of those tested so far have been positive for COVID-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.

Health officials say Indiana has far more coronavirus cases—probably tens of thousands more—than those indicated by the number of official tests. A study announced May 13 estimated at least 186,000 Hoosiers have or had COVID-19 through the end of April.

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 and first death from COVID-19 on March 16.

Marion County on Monday reported 10,358 cumulative cases—up from 10,326 the previous day, an increase of 32 cases.

The county’s cumulative death toll was 623, up from 621 in Sunday’s report.

The state said 60,963 people have been tested in the county.

In surrounding counties, Hamilton had 1,209 positive cases; Johnson 1,139; Hendricks 1,219; Boone 332; Hancock 366; Madison 605; Morgan 291; and Shelby 401.

Pike County has six cases, but every other Indiana county has at least 10.

The department said 38.3% of the state’s intensive care unit beds were still available. About 13% are being used by COVID-19 patients.

The department also said 83.1% of the state’s ventilators were available, with 4.4% 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.