Purdue University Fort Wayne extended its temporary policy requiring masks in buildings until at least Sept. 3. School officials cited “no discernible improvement in COVID-19 numbers across the area and nationwide.”
Only about 14 percent of northeast Indiana’s ICU capacity remains as COVID-19 continues its surge in the area.
About a quarter of the area’s ICU available capacity is occupied by COVID patients. There are more than 200 area residents hospitalized with the virus, according to the Indiana Department of Health.
Almost all of northeast Indiana, with the exception of LaGrange and Kosciusko counties, are in the state’s second-worst category for community spread of the virus. The metric is based on cases per 100,000 residents and 7-day positivity rates.
There were 243 cases reported in Allen County on Thursday, among the 505 new cases reported in the area.
Those between the ages of 20-29 make up the lion’s share of new cases in Allen County.
Throughout the Hoosier state, more than 3,000 cases were again reported, this time 3,713. That is the highest number of new COVID cases reported since mid-January.
The Delta variant has dropped in its percentage of new cases, and is now down to 54.7 percent. About 44 percent of the new cases reported are “not a variant of concern.”
Northeast Indiana totals for Aug. 19:
- Adams County: 27 new cases for 3,857 total. No new deaths for 56 total. 7-day positivity rate at 7.8%. Eligible population fully vaccinated 36%.
- Allen County: 243 new cases for 46,257 total. No new deaths for 710 total. 7-day positivity rate at 12%. Eligible population fully vaccinated 53%.
- DeKalb County: 13 new cases for 4,858 total. No new deaths for 87 total. 7-day positivity rate at 11.5%. Eligible population fully vaccinated 40.7%.
- Huntington County: 65 new cases for 4,945 total. 1 new death for 84 total. 7-day positivity rate at 11.1%. Eligible population fully vaccinated 45%.
- Kosciusko County: 35 new cases 10,089 total. No new deaths for 124 total. 7-day positivity rate at 6.3%. Eligible population fully vaccinated 40.4%.
- LaGrange County: 4 new cases for 2,849 total. No new deaths for 73 total. 7-day positivity rate at 11.5%. Eligible population fully vaccinated 24.4%.
- Noble County: 30 new cases for 6,321 total. No new deaths for 93 total. 7-day positivity rate at 8.6%. Eligible population fully vaccinated 39.3%.
- Steuben County: 22 new cases for 4,334 total. No new deaths for 63 total. 7-day positivity rate at 11%. Eligible population fully vaccinated 44.8%.
- Wabash County: 30 new cases for 3,983 total. No new deaths for 84 total. 7-day positivity rate at 9.5%. Eligible population fully vaccinated 39.7%.
- Wells County: 14 new cases for 3,231 total. No new deaths for 81 total. 7-day positivity rate at 8.9%. Eligible population fully vaccinated 41.7%.
- Whitley County: 17 new cases for 4,429 total. No new deaths for 46 total. 7-day positivity rate at 11.2%. Eligible population fully vaccinated 43.9%.
Sources include the Indiana Department of Health and local health department data.
