Medical

ISDH: More than 2,100 positive COVID-19 tests in Indiana; 49 dead

The latest on coronavirus on March 31 on News 8 at 5 p.m.

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — The Indiana State Department of Health says 14 more Hoosiers have died from COVID-19.

A total of 49 Hoosiers have died as a result of the virus.

ISDH is providing daily updates at 10 a.m.

Officials say 2,159 Hoosiers have tested positive and 13,373 tests have been conducted.

Of the new cases, Marion County had the most with 170.

ISDH has not provided info regarding recoveries in Indiana. Indiana health commissioner Dr. Kris Box says medical codes will come soon that will offer COVID-19 recovery information, which the state does not currently have.

According to the Center for Systems Science and Engineering at Johns Hopkins University, more than 803,000 cases have been confirmed worldwide, with more than 39,000 deaths and more than 172,000 recoveries. Click the link for the most recent updates to the numbers.

Gov. Eric Holcomb is have a daily briefing at 2:30 p.m. weekdays and as needed on weekends. You can watch that press conference on WISH-TV, WISHTV.com, the WISH-TV news app and on our Facebook page.

Here are highlights from Tuesday’s briefing:

  • Gov. Eric Holcomb has signed an executive order to extend the limits of bars and restaurants to offer only “to go” and “carry out” through April 6.
  • Holcomb, on Kentucky governor’s order not to travel to other states, says he’s not planning a similar order for Hoosiers. “I would just ask anyone in a hot spot right now, don’t be traveling.” He did not specifically identify what areas are considered hot spots.
  • Holcomb says the state is concerned about the “pain being put on all of us.” He says, though, the goal is to make sure the health care system “doesn’t collapse under all of us.”
  • Fred Payne of Workforce Development says it’s still having to process data before delivering federal stimulus money for the unemployed, which could take a couple more weeks.
  • Indiana health commissioner Dr. Kris Box notes Tuesday’s numbers showed significant growth, but are not new cases and deaths in a single day. They occurred in 14 days prior, after COVID-19 testing confirms case or death.
  • Box, asked about when Indiana will be in a surge of COVID-19 cases, says she thinks the surge is starting now.
  • Box says numbers indicate cases and deaths by residence of the people, which is why some counties see changes in numbers if county residents were hospitalized or died in a different county.
  • Box says the state will soon see online number updates twice a day instead only at 10 a.m. daily. This is required to get information out to emergency personnel, she says. She did not immediately provide specifics on when the site will be updated twice daily.
  • Box says about 15% of Indiana’s tests are coming back positive, and about 20% of those people tested positive are expected to be hospitalized.
  • Box says Indiana has not modeled a projection of deaths, but she is concerned about the state’s older population and higher smoking rate compared to other states.
  • Box says someone who gets a test done today and processed through one of four labs will be reported within 24 hours in the state’s online numbers. Plans are in the works to increase the number of labs processing tests.
  • Box says a testing lab added in northwest Indiana, with a turnaround time from 12-24 hours, is thenewest of the four labs processing coronavirus tests.
  • Box says the federal Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) is forcing a delicate balance between releasing information but protecting patient privacy.
  • Box says “specific COVID-19 units” are being established around the state.
  • Box says the Army Corps of Engineers is being asked to help plan for the creation of field hospitals if needed across the state. Box says no specific sites have been identified for possible field hospitals.
  • Holcomb says the numbers of COVID-19 cases and deaths continues to rise in the state, and a concern exists here and in other states about de-escalating practices cautiously when those numbers being to fall.
  • Holcomb says Indiana should relax restrictions gradually when the numbers begin to drop, to avoid another surge.
  • Holcomb says if you are sick, you need to talk to your employer and your health care provider and also seek COVID-19 testing.
  • Box says 11,000 health professionals including dentists, midwives and veterinarians have offered to volunteer their help, up from 5,300 reported Monday.
  • Holcomb, asked about a possible moratorium on rent and mortgage payments, said that’s not being considered at this time. “You still need to pay your rent and mortgages,” but one of his orders took action in regard to evictions.
  • Family and Social Services secretary Dr. Jennifer Sullivan says regions set up in the state were designed so hospitals don’t have to work alone but can count on each other for help.
  • Holcomb gave a salute to Evansville-area counties’ leaders who set up a crisis response fund. It has raised at least $2.2 million. The goal is $6 million.
  • Holcomb gave a salute to sewing circles that are producing masks. One local sewing group has sent 2,500 masks to hospitals and health care facilities in 15 different counties. They have received requests for 40,000 masks.
  • Holcomb says a 60-year Lebanon employer, American Ultraviolet, which sells handheld sanitizing devices, is increasing its production and is seeking new employees to help answer a growing need for its product.
(Provided Photo/Indiana State Department of Health)
(Provided Photo/Indiana State Department of Health)

Update 5:37 p.m.

The Indiana Commission for Higher Education will offer free virtual Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) filing help for students and families from 1-3 p.m. Saturday. More information is online.

Update 5:29 p.m.

An Indiana Department of Transportation virtual job fair for more than 1,000 construction and related positions will be 10 a.m. April 16. Register online.

Update 5:16 p.m.

Indiana Gov. Eric Holcomb has signed an executive order to add 60 days, for a total of 180 days, to the deadline for Hoosier Lottery winners to claim prizes.

Update 3:52 p.m.

Indy Parks is closing basketball courts and other “court-type amenities” in its parks after seeing a rise in group play. Additional restrictions may be enforced as staff continue to monitor park spaces.

Update 12:41 p.m.

The Indianapolis Fire Department announced that 11 fighters have tested positive for COVID-19.

Additionally, the Marion County Sheriff’s Office said five employees have coronavirus, including two judicial enforcement division/courthouse deputies, one jail deputy, one jail civilian and one civilian in the administration division.

The Lebanon Fire Department said they also had member test positive for the virus.

County-by-county numbers, according to ISDH

  • Adams – 1
  • Allen – 30, including one death
  • Bartholomew – 13
  • Boone – 22
  • Brown – 3
  • Carroll – 2
  • Cass – 1
  • Clark – 33
  • Clay – 1
  • Clinton – 1
  • Crawford – 1
  • Dearborn – 14, including one death
  • Decatur – 47, including one death
  • DeKalb – 1
  • Delaware – 18, including one death
  • Dubois – 3
  • Elkhart – 20, including one death
  • Fayette – 9, including one death
  • Floyd – 21
  • Fountain – 1
  • Franklin – 35, including four deaths
  • Fulton – 1
  • Gibson – 4
  • Grant – 7
  • Greene – 2
  • Hamilton – 127
  • Hancock – 26, including two deaths
  • Harrison – 15
  • Hendricks – 70, including one death
  • Henry – 1
  • Howard – 16, including one death
  • Huntington – 2
  • Jackson – 8
  • Jasper – 8, including one death
  • Jefferson – 1
  • Jennings – 15
  • Johnson – 101, including three deaths
  • Knox – 2
  • Kosciusko – 5
  • LaGrange – 2
  • Lake – 156, including five deaths
  • LaPorte – 8
  • Lawrence – 9
  • Madison – 38, including one death
  • Marion – 964, including 17 deaths
  • Marshall – 3
  • Miami – 3
  • Monroe – 30
  • Montgomery – 6
  • Morgan – 32, including one death
  • Newton – 1
  • Noble – 2
  • Ohio – 1
  • Orange – 3
  • Owen – 11
  • Porter – 21
  • Posey – 4
  • Putnam – 7, including one death
  • Randolph – 3
  • Ripley – 31, including one death
  • Rush – 4
  • Scott – 1, including one death
  • Shelby – 15
  • St. Joseph – 49, including one death
  • Starke – 1
  • Steuben – 1
  • Sullivan – 2
  • Switzerland – 3
  • Tippecanoe – 14, including one death
  • Tipton – 4
  • Vanderburgh – 18
  • Vermillion – 1
  • Vigo – 8, including one death
  • Wabash – 1
  • Warren – 2, including one death
  • Warrick – 8
  • Washington – 6
  • Wayne – 2
  • Wells – 2
  • White – 2
  • Whitley – 2

Timeline of coronavirus in Indiana

  • March 6: Indiana State Department of Health (ISDH) confirms the first case in Indiana. Officials say the Marion County resident had recently traveled to Boston to attend a BioGen conference as a contractor.
  • March 8: ISDH confirms a second case. An adult in Hendricks County who had also traveled to the BioGen conference was placed in isolation. Noblesville Schools announces that a parent and that parent’s children will be self-quarantining after attending an out-of-state event where someone else tested positive.
  • March 9: ISDH’s total of positive cases rises to 4. Avon Community School Corp. had announced on March 8 that a student tested positive; that case, along with another in Noble County, was confirmed by state health officials at a news conference.
  • March 10: ISDH’s total of positive cases rises to 6 as the state launches an online tracker. Purdue and Indiana universities suspend classes for two weeks beyond their spring breaks. Ball State University basketball fans learn the Mid-American Conference tourney will have no fans in the stands. Three businesses operating nursing homes in Indiana announce they will no longer allow visitors.
  • March 11: ISDH confirms four more positive cases in Indiana. The University of Indianapolis announces it will extend its ongoing spring break through March 22. The Indianapolis-based NCAA announces the men’s and women’s Final Four basketball tournaments will be conducted with essential staff and limited family attendance. The Big Ten announces all sports events, including the men’s basketball tournament at Bankers Life Fieldhouse, will have no fans starting March 12. Ball State University announces classes are suspended for the rest of the spring semester. NBA suspends all games, including the Indiana Pacers, until further notice. Butler University extends its spring break, after which it will go to virtual classes.
  • March 12: ISDH’s total of positive cases rises 12. Taylor University cancels international and domestic spring break trips for students and faculty sponsors. Indianapolis’ annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade is canceled. Gov. Eric Holcomb announces new protections that led to extended public school closings and the cancellation of large events across the state. The league including the Indy Fuel hockey team suspends its season. Indy Eleven says it will reschedule four matches, including its April 4 home opener. The NCAA cancels the men’s and women’s basketball tournaments. The Big Ten suspends all sporting events through the winter and spring seasons.
  • March 13: Gov. Holcomb announces additional actions — they included eliminating Medicaid co-pays for COVID-19 testing and lifting regulations limiting the number of work hours per day for drivers of commercial vehicles — to help stop the coronavirus. Wayzata Home Products, a Connersville cabinet maker, shut down and lays off its entire workforce due to market uncertainty associated with the coronavirus. The Indiana High School Athletic Association postpones the boys basketball tournament. Franklin College says it will have no in-person classes March 16 and 17, start online classes March 18 through at least April 5 and empty residence halls of students by 5 p.m. March 15. The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis says it will be closed March 14-28. The Indianapolis Public Library joins other libraries across Indiana and says it will close all facilities until further notice beginning at 5 p.m. March 14.
  • March 14: ISDH’s total number of positive cases rises to 15. The Indiana Gaming Commission says all licensed gaming and racing operations will close 14 days starting March 16.
  • March 15: ISDH’s total number of positive cases rises to 19, with 121 tested. St. Vincent Hospital in Indianapolis announces all elective, non-urgent surgeries are canceled as of Tuesday.
  • March 16: Gov. Eric Holcomb announces the first Hoosier death. ISDH’s total number of positive cases rises to 24. Holcomb closes bars, restaurants and nightlubs to in-person patrons, while carryout and delivery services will still be allowed.
  • March 17: ISDH announces the second Hoosier death. Indiana’s Catholic bishops announce the cancellation of Sunday and weekday public masses. Gov. Holcomb activates the National Guard to assist as needed with the virus response. Purdue, Butler and Indiana State universities cancel May commencement ceremonies.
  • March 18: ISDH’s total number of positive cases rises to 39. Eli Lilly and Co. says it will use its labs to speed up testing in Indiana for SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19. The 500 Festival announces suspends all planned, in-person events scheduled through May 9. Simon Property Group closes all malls and retail properties until March 29.
  • March 19: ISDH’s total number of positive cases rises to 56. Gov. Holcomb extends Indiana’s state of emergency into May. Holcomb says all K-12 public schools will be closed until May 1 and nonpublic schools also are to close. Standardized testing was canceled. The state’s income-tax and corporate-tax payment deadline was extended to July 15. Holcomb says the state will waive job search requirements for people applying for Temporary Assistance to Needy Families. The IHSAA Boys Basketball State Tournament was canceled. The Marion County Emergency Operations Center upgrades to Level 1 status.
  • March 20: ISDH reports the third Hoosier death and 23 new cases for a total of 79. Gov. Holcomb moves the state’s primary election to June 2. Indiana University says it is postponing May commencement ceremonies on all campuses. Indiana University Health says it can do limited virus testing.
  • March 21: ISDH reports the fourth Hoosier death, and 47 new cases positive for a total of 126. A total of 833 people have been tested for the virus. Indiana National Guard details how it’s working with the Department of Transportation on distribution of medical supplies to hospitals.
  • March 22: Indiana’s death toll rises to 7. ISDH reports 75 more positive cases.
  • March 23: ISDH reports 259 cases of COVID-19, up from 201 a day earlier. Gov. Holcomb orders Hoosiers deemed nonessential to “stay at home” from March 24-April 7. Eli Lilly & Co. begins drive-thru testing for the coronavirus for health care workers with a doctor’s order. Ball State University cancels the May commencement.
  • March 24: Indiana’s death toll rises to 13. Fred Payne of Indiana Workforce Development says any Hoosiers out of work, including temporary layoffs, are eligible to apply for unemployment benefits.
  • March 25: Indiana’s death toll rises 17. Indianapolis Motor Speedway announces the Indianapolis 500 is moved to Aug. 23. IndyGo suspends fares and changes its ride schedules.
  • March 27: Indiana’s death toll rises to 25. Marion County adds 192 new positive COVID-19 cases, the most of any county in the state for the day, for a total of 484. Indiana has 981 confirmed cases.
  • March 28: Indiana’s death toll rises to 31. Marion County adds 100 new cases, the most of any county in the state, for a total of 584. Indiana has 1,232 confirmed cases.
  • March 29: Indiana’s death toll rises to 32. Marion County adds 92 new positive cases, the most of any county in the state, for a total 676. Indiana has 1,514 confirmed cases. President Donald Trump announces in a press conference that the national social distancing recommendation will be extended by 30 days, to end April 30.
  • March 30: Indiana’s death toll rises to 35. Marion County had the most new cases in the state with 135, for a total of 804. Indiana health commissioner Dr. Kris Box predicted the arrival of the surge in cases and deaths could come in mid-April to late April, but could be as late as mid-May, “but we don’t know.”
  • March 31: Indiana’s death toll rises to 49. Gov. Holcomb extends the limits of bars and restaurants to offer only “to go” and “carry out” through April 6. Health commissioner Box, asked about when Indiana will be in a surge of COVID-19 cases, says she thinks the surge is starting.
  • April 1: Indiana’s death toll rises to 65. Officials extend Marion County’s “stay at home” order through May 1. Marion County health officials say they will start COVID-19 testing services for frontline employees.The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis says it will remain closed until further notice. Gov. Holcomb announces the #InThisTogether campaign.
  • April 2: Indiana’s death toll rises to 78. The state announces K-12 schools will be closed for the rest of the school year. The Indiana High School Athletic Association cancels spring sports seasons.
  • April 3: Indiana’s death toll rises to 102. Gov. Holcomb extends the “stay at home” order through May 3. Indiana officials say the state has received a federal Major Disaster Declaration for all 92 counties. The Indiana National Guard says it, the Army Corps of Engineers and state health officials will begin on Saturday to assess sites for alternate health care facilities.
  • April 4: ISDH reports 14 more deaths, bringing the state’s total to 116. 3,953 Hoosiers have tested positive, with 116 deaths and 19,800 total tests conducted. 
  • April 5: ISDH reports 11 more deaths in Indiana.
  • April 6: Indiana’s death toll rises to 139. The state reports one Madison County nursing home has had 11 deaths. Gov. extends the “stay at home” order through April 20. He also limits additional businesses to carry-out only.
  • April 7: Indiana’s death toll rises to 173. A total of 5,507 Hoosiers have tested positive. Indiana health commissioner Box notes four long-term care facilities have 22 deaths that appear to be related to COVID-19.

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