As Indiana blew past 5,000 cases of COVID-19 in a single day Wednesday, and Gov. Eric Holcomb ordered the state to resume some restrictions to curb the spread of the virus, hospitals expressed concerns about capacity.
Parkview Health Network expressed concerns about the high-rate of community spread throughout northeast Indiana.
Parkview has hospitals in seven counties throughout the area, as well as a number of clinics and stand-alone emergency departments.
In Allen County Wednesday, four new deaths were reported, bringing that total to 250. Four hundred and nine residents tested positive.
Allen County health officials welcomed an increase in restrictions from Gov. Eric Holcomb, announced Wednesday. They are working to determine whether additional restrictions are necessary, according to a press release Wednesday afternoon.
"We applaud the Governor's announcement today to implement measures statewide to reduce the spread of the novel coronavirus," said Allen County Health Commissioner Dr. Matthew Sutter. "We are currently seeing an alarming increase in cases in Allen County that mirror those in the region and the state. Hospitalizations for COVID-19 are currently at record numbers and continue to increase. If these trends continue, the hospitals are likely to be overwhelmed. It is important everyone understand this is a serious disease and take steps to avoid spreading the virus by wearing masks, social distancing and staying home when sick or while awaiting test results."
Northeast Indiana has only one county with less than 20 new COVID-19 cases Wednesday.
County case counts Wednesday were as follows:
- Adams County: 53 new cases, 1,042 total. One new deats, 14 total.
- Allen County: 409 new cases, 12,413 total. Four new deaths, 250 total.
- DeKalb County: *34 new cases, 1,191 total. One new deats, 15 total.
- Huntington County: 29 new cases, 758 total. No new deaths, seven total.
- Kosciusko County: 117 new cases, 3,084 total. No new deaths, 35 total.
- LaGrange County: 23 new cases, 1,085 total. One new death, 20 total.
- Noble County: 32 new cases, 1,731 total. One new deaths, 40 total.
- Steuben County: 27 new cases, 973 total. No new deaths, 10 total.
- Wabash County: 40 new cases, 919 total. No new deaths, 15 total.
- Wells County: 39 new cases, 780 total. One new death, 16 total.
- Whitley County: 38 new cases, 850 total. No new deaths, six total.
* DeKalb County's totals for Wednesday reflect data from the Indiana State Department of Health. It may be slightly different than what the county recorded and was released by their health department on Tuesday, due to Veterans Day closures.
Sources include the Indiana State Department of Health and local health departments.
