INDIANAPOLIS — The Indiana State Department of Health (ISDH) today announced that 735 additional Hoosiers have been diagnosed with COVID-19 through testing at ISDH, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and private laboratories. That brings to 54,080 the total number of Indiana residents known to have the novel coronavirus.
A total of 2,602 Hoosiers are confirmed to have died from COVID-19, an increase of 10 over the previous day. Another 193 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.
To date, 595,558 tests have been reported to ISDH, up from 586,589 on Wednesday.
Bartholomew County is reporting unchanged statistics of 612 positive cases and 45 deaths.
Surrounding counties reported:
- Jackson County: 486 positive cases (up one) and three deaths (no change).
- Decatur County: 259 positive cases (up two) and 32 deaths (no change).
- Shelby County: 466 positive cases (up two) and 25 deaths (no change).
- Johnson County: 1,394 positive cases (up 15) and 118 deaths (no change).
- Jennings County: 182 positive cases (up one) and 12 deaths (no change).
- Brown County: 47 positive cases (up one) and one death (no change).
As of Thursday, nearly 32 percent of ICU beds and nearly 84 percent of ventilators were available statewide.
To find testing locations around the state, including one in Columbus, visit www.coronavirus.in.gov and click on the COVID-19 testing information link.
The Bartholomew County Health Board released a statement Thursday about COVID-19 safety:
The Bartholomew County Board of Health released the following statement about COVID-19 on Thursday:
Over the past few months, people of all ages and health conditions have been infected with coronavirus, the virus that causes COVID-19. Over 2,500 Hoosiers, including 45 people in Bartholomew County, have died from this illness. People who recover face serious health conditions such as lung or heart damage, long-term dialysis due to kidney damage, and strokes. Recovering from the illness can be a multi-week endeavor, even in mild cases, and sometimes people are hospitalized for extended periods of time. Due to the recent emergence of this virus, it is not yet known what the long term implications of having had the virus are or whether it will cause future symptoms or reemerge in someone who recovered from it.
In light of these facts, and in response to the recent surge in COVID-19 cases in Indiana, the Bartholomew County Board of Public Health urges all residents of Bartholomew County to do our part to help reduce the spread of this virus. The virus is transmitted through respiratory droplets when an infected person sneezes, coughs, or talks. The droplets can be inhaled by others who are nearby, can land on clothes, or can be picked up touching surfaces, other people, or put on our faces when there is virus on the hand.
At this time the most effective strategies known to prevent spreading the virus or contracting the virus ourselves include:
- Wearing a face covering or mask when in a public place or group of people where physical distancing at all times is not possible
- Avoiding large group gatherings, especially indoor gatherings involving singing, talking, or shouting
- Physically distancing 6 feet away from other people
- Limiting trips and outings to those that are necessary, such as work, grocery shopping, seeing health care providers
- Washing your hands frequently – including after coming into contact with other people and after shopping or other activity outside of your own home
- Using hand sanitizer frequently when hand washing isn’t available
- Regularly cleaning commonly touched surfaces in your home, such as light switches, door knobs, and countertops, with a disinfectant cleaner
Coronavirus testing can be scheduled by phone at 888-634-1116, online at https://lhi.care/covidtesting (lhi.care) or can check with your physician.
Thank you for doing your part to help protect our community. This is truly a team effort. By working together, we can all help make the world a little safer.
Board members: Cindy Boll, Brooke Case, Dr. Michael J. Chadwick, Lynne Fleming, Ashley Getz, Katea M. Ravega, Susie Sawin
