State’s daily update reports decline in COVID-19 cases, deaths

The Indiana State Department of Health in its Memorial Day report said the number of positive cases of COVID-19 in the state has risen to 31,715, following the emergence of 339 more cases.

That’s the fewest number of new cases in the health department’s daily report since 291 new cases were reported on April 14.

The state reported 475 new cases on Sunday, 492 on Saturday, 473 new cases on Friday, 662 on Thursday, 569 on Wednesday, and 450 on Tuesday.

The department said Monday that the cumulative death toll in the state rose to 1,832, up from 1,824 the previous day—an increase of eight. That’s the fewest number of new deaths in the health department’s daily report since seven were reported on April 20.

More than 91% 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 3% of the deaths have involved someone younger than 50.

According to the report, 876 deaths—or 47.8% of the state’s total—involved long-term care patients, as of May 25. More than 142 facilities have experienced at least one COVID-19 death.

The state said 226,251 people have been tested so far, up from 220,801 in Sunday’s report—an increase of 5,450.

Daily testing has topped 5,000 for 12 straight days and in 18 of the last 21 days.

The state said 14% 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 9,189 cumulative cases—up from 9,132 the previous day, an increase of 57 cases.

The county’s cumulative death toll was 533, the same as Sunday’s report.

The state said 48,071 people have been tested in the county.

As for surrounding counties, Hamilton had 1,099 positive cases; Johnson 1,082; Hendricks 1,123; Boone 282; Hancock 319; Madison 582; Morgan 261; and Shelby 314.

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

The department said 40.9% of the state’s intensive care unit beds were still available. About 14.4% are being used by COVID-19 patients.

The department also said 81.8% of the state’s ventilators were available, with 5.5% 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.

As of Monday morning, more than 1.64 million cases had been reported in the United States, with 97,811 deaths, according to a running tally maintained by health researchers at Johns Hopkins University & Medicine. More than 366,700 people have recovered.

More than 5.44 million cases have been reported globally, with 345,589 deaths. More than 2.18 million people have recovered.