INDIANAPOLIS — This is blog contains daily updates on COVID-19 information for Indiana. The Indiana State Department of Health gives daily updates at noon, while Gov. Eric Holcomb and other state officials provide more context every Wednesday at 2:30 p.m.
Sunday, Nov.1
The Indiana State Department of Health reported 2,787 new cases of COVID-19 among Hoosiers Sunday, raising the state's total of cases during the pandemic to 182,108.
The 28 additional deaths that occurred between Oct. 21 and Saturday bring the state's total confirmed dead from the virus to 4,124.
As of Sunday, 1,709,944 unique individuals have been tested for the virus, up from 1,699,008 reported on Saturday. A total of 2,941,037 tests that includes repeat tests for the same individuals have been reported to the state Department of Health since Feb. 26.
Saturday, Oct. 31
Indiana reported more than 3,000 new coronavirus cases for a third straight day Saturday as the state’s new COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations continued to surge.
The Indiana State Department of Health also reported 46 newly recorded COVID-19 deaths Saturday, raising the state’s pandemic death toll to 4,332, including confirmed and presumed coronavirus infections.
Indiana’s seven-day rolling average for newly confirmed cases rose to 2,714, according to the health department’s daily update Saturday of its coronavirus dashboard. That is the highest level the state has seen during the pandemic.
Friday, Oct. 30
The state is reporting 3,205 new cases and 26 more deaths from COVID-19.
The Indiana State Department of Health also announced 26 more deaths from COVID-19 for a total of 4,050 since March. Deaths are split almost equally between men (49.8 percent) and women (48.7 percent) with a small fraction where the gender was not recorded.
The vast majority of deaths (51.4 percent) are in those 80 and above. The next largest are 70-79 (25.5 percent) and people 60-69 (15.3 percent).
Indiana officials are preparing for when the state will get a COVID-19 vaccine.
Indiana Health Commissioner Dr. Kristina Box said the first vaccine is likely to be a two-dose version from Pfizer. She said the timeline for a second vaccine from Moderna is a “rapidly developing situation, so a lot is subject to change.”
Neither vaccine has been approved by the Food and Drug Administration, and multiple vaccine candidates are still undergoing trials. Indiana's health care workers would be the first to be vaccinated.
Thursday, Oct. 29
State health officials announced 3,649 new COVID-19 cases and 33 additional deaths, bringing statewide totals to 172,730 cases and 4,024 deaths.
The announcement marks the most cases in a single day, topping the record set just one week ago. The Indiana State Department of Health said the report included the most tests administered, dating back to July 20.
"A historic load of negative labs resulted in the addition of 148 historical tested individuals and 1,351 historical tests administered to today's counts," ISDH said.
Hospitalizations are still rising, with more than 1,700 Hoosiers in the hospital for COVID-19.
Wednesday, Oct. 28
Noon
The Indiana State Department of Health reports more than 2,500 new confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the state.
Thirty-three more Hoosiers have died from the virus, nearly 4,000 total deaths since the start of the pandemic.
There are more than 169,000 Hoosiers who have tested positive for the virus.
Indiana's 7-day positivity rate has increased to 7.1 percent.
Governor candidates share thoughts on COVID-19 vaccine
The candidates for Indiana governor faced off Tuesday night for the second and final time before Election Day.
Incumbent Republican Eric Holcomb, who is running for his second term in the governor's office, Democratic challenger Dr. Woody Myers and Libertarian Donald Rainwater debated a wide range of topics.
One of the questions, which were submitted by Indiana voters, asked about a COVID-19 vaccine and if Hoosiers should be required to get one when it's available.
2:30 p.m.
The 7-day positivity rate is now at 7.1 percent and the hospitalizations are the highest the state has seen since the start of the pandemic.
With the surge in cases, the Indiana National Guard will be deploying to hundreds of long-term care centers beginning Monday, Nov. 2 to help with testing and collecting data. The state will also provide 2 million N95 masks and other PPE to the facilities. Infection control training will be done with all long-term care employees.
In a response to the surge, the state is looking to hire more contact tracers.
Vaccine coming to Indiana
The state said it was told by the federal government that it should expect the first shipment of COVID-19 vaccine by late November and a second shipment by mid-December.
The timeline could change and the state said it will take months before a vaccine is available to everyone.
State health leaders said it is important, especially with the surge in cases, that people continue wearing masks along with social distancing and other safety steps.
Tuesday, Oct. 27
The Indiana State Department of Health reported 2,062 new confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the state and 51 more deaths.
In total, nearly 4,000 Hoosiers have died from the virus and more than 166,000 have contracted it since the start of the pandemic.
The state's 7-day positivity rate is 7 percent.
Monday, Oct. 26
Noon
Indiana State Department of Health reported on Monday that there are 2,009 new confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the state, totaling more than 164,000 cases.
There are an additional 13 deaths totaling 3,907 Hoosiers who have died since the start of the pandemic.
Indiana's 7-day all-test positivity rate is 6.9%.
11 a.m.
State health officials say Indiana’s hospitals entered the weekend with their most COVID-19 patients since the first weeks after the coronavirus outbreak reached the state seven months ago. The state health department has also added 38 more coronavirus-related deaths to Indiana’s toll over past two days.
The newly recorded deaths raise Indiana’s death toll to 4,130, including confirmed and presumed coronavirus infections.
The 1,685 coronavirus hospitalizations as of Friday marked Indiana’s most since mid-April and also up about double from late September.
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