INDIANAPOLIS — Like many states, including Kentucky, Indiana is seeing an increase in coronavirus cases and hospitalizations. Here are the latest numbers that we will update daily in this story.
Sunday, August 2
Indiana reports 784 new positive cases, 4 additional deaths
The Indiana State Department of Health is reporting 784 new cases of COVID-19 and 4 additional deaths.
Saturday's 989 cases reporting new positives represented the state's second-highest daily total since the pandemic began. The highest percentage of positive cases is occurring in the 20-29 age group, according to ISDH data. Deaths are highest in people 80 and older, at 51 percent of the 2,775 total deaths recorded in Indiana.
The state has surpassed 67,000 total positive cases of the virus. Overall, Hoosiers are testing at an 8.8 percent positive rate. Positive tests came back at a 7.3 percent rate last week.
Capacity to treat Hoosiers in need of critical care for COVID-19 remains high, with more than 37 percent of ICU beds and nearly 85 percent of ventilators available across the state.
Saturday, August 1
The Indiana State Department of Health reported 989 new cases of COVID-19 on Saturday and 6 additional deaths that occurred between Thursday and Friday.
A total of 2,771 Hoosiers are confirmed to have died from COVID-19. Another 200 probable deaths have been reported based on clinical diagnoses in patients for whom no positive test is on record. Deaths are reported based on when data are received by ISDH and occurred over multiple days.
Positive tests among Hoosiers came back at a rate of 7.1 percent for the week, and the overall rate of positive tests returned is 8.8 percent throughout the pandemic. More than 15,700 new tests were reported for Saturday's count. Those were performed between May 6 and Friday.
As of today, more than 35 percent of ICU beds and more than 84 percent of ventilators are available across the state.
To date, 758,606 tests for unique individuals have been reported to ISDH, up from 747,383 on Friday.
Friday, July 31
ISDH has reported 912 more cases of COVID-19 and 19 additional deaths. The positive test rate over the last seven days is 7 percent.
There are now a total of 66,154 positive cases and 2,765 deaths. Since testing began, 8.9 percent of Hoosiers tested have received a positive result. 747,383 Hoosiers have been tested, while the state has administered a total of 926,406 tests.
ICU bed usage by COVID-19 patients in the state declined slightly over the last day — from 12.3 percent to 11.7 percent. The number of hospitalized patients increased in the same time span — from 831 to 865.
Thursday, July 30
ISDH is reporting 970 new cases of COVID-19 and 13 more deaths. Over the last seven days, Hoosiers are testing at a 6.9 percent positive rate.
The state has surpassed 65,000 total positive cases of the virus. Overall, Hoosiers are testing at an 8.9 percent positive rate.
The number of probable deaths has increased to 200. Doctors believe COVID-19 contributed to those deaths but did not have a positive test result to confirm.
Hoosiers hospitalized by COVID-19 slightly decreased from Tuesday to Wednesday — from 837 to 831.
Wednesday, July 29
Indiana to remain in Stage 4.5 until August 27
Wednesday during his news briefing, Governor Eric Holcomb said the state will stay in Stage 4.5 now until Aug. 27. He also said local governments can continue to implement more stringent guidelines if they need too.
The moratorium on evictions will be extended through Aug. 14. The extension now aligns it with the order on the disconnection of utility services.
To help continue to protect those in long-term care facilities, the state will again work to test all staff in August.
The state also said the Hoosier labor participation rate is now at 64.3 percent, which is comparable to the 64.4 percent in February before the pandemic hit Indiana.
COVID-19 numbers
The state health department is reporting 630 more positive cases and eight more deaths due to the virus. That brings the totals to 64,299 cases and 2,733 deaths.
With more than 724,000 Hoosiers tested, the positive testing rate is at 8.9 percent.
The eight deaths reported Wednesday date back to June 26. An additional 199 deaths have been ruled "probable," meaning doctors listed COVID-19 was listed as a contributing factor, but there was no positive result for the patient on file.
Total hospitalizations decreased slightly from Monday to Tuesday, from 907 to 837. But average hospitalizations have been on the rise since early July.
IPS planning to delay in-person class until October
Indianapolis Public Schools are planning to hold off on in person instruction until at least October. If approved by the board, the 2020-21 school year will begin with 100 percent remote learning when school starts on Aug. 17.
All students will receive a device for the 2020-21 school year. Students in grades Pre-K-2 will receive an iPad; students in Grades 3-12 will receive a Chromebook. A MiFi mobile hot spot device will also be available to families who do not have access to internet service.
The district also plans to implement learning hubs as a supplement to remote learning for select students. These hubs will be physical spaces where some students who may struggle with remote instruction can go each day to access their digital classwork and receive help, as well as those who receive physical and mental interventions that they can’t otherwise get virtually.
Tuesday, July 28
The Indiana State Department of Health reports 809 new positive cases of COVID-19 for a total of 63,678.
There were also 16 additional deaths reported, bringing the state total to 2,725.
Monday, July 27
The Indiana State Department of Health reported that there are 561 new cases of coronavirus in the state, totaling nearly 63,000 cases. Three more Hoosiers have died from the virus.
Just under 9 percent of COVID-19 cases are positive in the state.
Governor Eric Holcomb's executive order, mandating masks in the Hoosier state, begins Monday, July 27.
State and local health departments will be responsible for enforcing compliance through education about the importance of wearing face coverings. The executive order does not include criminal penalties.
Here are the situations where Hoosiers will now be required to wear a mask when the mandate takes effect:
-Masks must be worn by anyone over the age of 8 when in indoor spaces, using public transportation or outside when you're not socially or physically distanced from someone who isn't in your household.
-All students who are in third grade or above will be required to wear a mask at school. All children are required to wear a face-covering while on a school bus.
-Masks are also required for co-curricular and extra-curricular activities, with exceptions for strenuous physical activity.
-Exceptions will be made for medical purposes, strenuous physical activity, eating and drinking. Masks will be strongly recommended for those ages 2-7.
Holcomb said the decision came due to a spike in cases not only in Indiana but the surrounding states.
Holiday World will require guests to wear masks upon entry to the park and in any indoor areas beginning Monday, July 27 to comply with the newly signed statewide executive order.
Once inside the park, visitors can remove their face masks in outdoor areas as long as they are able to socially distance.
The park has also asked visitors to get a HoliCash wristband or use Apple Pay or Android Pay for touchless payment options.
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