Over the past week in northeast Indiana, there were 3,714 new positive cases of COVID-19 diagnosed, and 58 deaths spread among the counties.
On Friday, Allen County reported four new deaths from the illness for a total of 383. There were 462 positive tests reported, according to the Allen County Department of Health.
Indiana surpassed the 400,000 case level, and the number of Hoosiers killed by the illness is 6,373.
On Wednesday, Gov. Eric Holcomb ordered hospitals to suspend elective surgeries, courts suspended jury trials, and officials pleaded with residents to stay home and wear their masks.
All the week’s news wasn’t grim, however, as news of a COVID-19 vaccine came out. Five Indiana hospitals, including Parkview, are slated to be the first few in the state to administer the vaccine in the coming weeks.
The DeKalb County Health Department is asking for volunteers to help with mass vaccination clinics as northeast Indiana awaits the arrival of the COVID-19 vaccine. Those who qualify can sign up here.
Volunteers are needed to help with patient registration, patient screening, and parking, among other tasks.
When the vaccine is slated to arrive has yet to be announced, with the FDA expected to approve the first version of the drug sometime today under an emergency use authorization.
DeKalb County health officials also announced two additional deaths from COVID-19 on Friday, as well as an additional 47 new cases. The county’s 7-day positivity rate is at 17.6 percent.
The Allen County Health Department reported four more deaths and 462 new cases.
Only 11.3 percent of northeast Indiana’s ICU capacity remains, with 31.9 percent occupied by COVID-19 patients.
There are 367 residents of northeast Indiana are hospitalized with the disease.
Statewide, there are 21.1 percent of ICU beds available, with 43.1 percent occupied by COVID-19 patients. There are 3,204 Hoosiers hospitalized with the illness.
Northeast Indiana’s average positivity rate is 15.9 percent, with most counties in the warning zone for community spread, according to the Indiana State Department of Health.
COVID-19 totals for northeast Indiana on Friday, Dec. 11:
- Adams County: 46 new cases for 2,222 total. No new deaths for 28 total. 7-day positivity rate at 14.1%.
- Allen County: 462 new cases for 23,405 total. Four new deaths for 383 total. 7-day positivity rate at 17.6%.
- DeKalb County: 47 new cases for 2,458 total. Two new deaths for 44 total. 7-day positivity rate at 19.1%.
- Huntington County: 42 new cases for 2,458 total. One new death for 17 total. 7-day positivity rate at 12.4%.
- Kosciusko County: 96 new cases for 5,772 total. Three new deaths for 57 total. 7-day positivity rate at 14.6%.
- LaGrange County: 25 new cases for 1,776 total. One new death for 40 total. 7-day positivity rate at 19%.
- Noble County: 47 new cases for 3,304 total. No new deaths for 51 total. 7-day positivity rate at 13.7%.
- Steuben County: 31 new cases for 1,972 total. No new deaths for 16 total. 7-day positivity rate at 15.9%.
- Wabash County: 38 new cases for 2,219 total. No new deaths for 28 total. 7-day positivity rate at 12%.
- Wells County: 14 new cases for 1,629 total. Three new deaths for 42 total. 7-day positivity rate at 14.2%.
- Whitley County: 60 new cases for 1,935 total. No new deaths for 17 total. 7-day positivity rate at 22.9%
