Another 2,403 Indiana residents have tested positive with COVID-19, according to Thursday’s report from the Indiana Department of Health.
Of those residents, 19 more people tested positive in Marshall County, two more people tested positive in Starke County and three more people tested positive in Pulaski County. That brings the total number of people who have tested positive with COVID-19 in Marshall County to 5,226. In Starke County, the total number is 1,809 and in Pulaski County it is 1,006.
An additional 37 COVID-19 deaths were reported Thursday. The report also showed an increase in the overall total number of deaths by 1,507. Those deaths were deemed to be historical deaths. During Governor Eric Holcomb’s press briefing Wednesday, State Health Commissioner Dr. Kristina Box said a year-end audit of data collected during the health pandemic found more COVID-19 deaths.
“Please understand that never before have local and state Departments of Health had to present data in real time before it was fully vetted,” stated Dr. Box. “This audit required matching of every death certificate that indicates infection with COVID-19 as the cause of death, or a contributing cause of death to a positive COVID-19 test. We’re also working through death certificates from late December and January of this year that came in following the launch of our new birth and death registry system.”
Dr. Box said the audit identified 1,205 additional COVID-19 deaths in 2020 and 302 COVID-19 deaths in 2021 that were added to Thursday’s dashboard. She added that 90 additional deaths were identified that will be added to the long-term care facility dashboard.
Dr. Box continued, “These deaths had already been accounted for in our overall death totals, but had not been specifically assigned to a long-term care facility. They will be added to the long-term care dashboard when it updates next week.”
The total number of confirmed deaths is now 11,231, plus an additional 406 probable COVID-19 deaths.
Residents over the age of 65, along with healthcare workers, long-term care residents, and first responders who are regularly called to the scene of an emergency to render medical assistance, are now eligible to receive a COVID-19 vaccine. To schedule an appointment, visit https://ourshot.in.gov or call 211.
As of Thursday, 637,906 Hoosiers have received a first dose of vaccine, and 178,560 were fully vaccinated.
