A graph shows the number of molecular and antigen COVID-19 cases in Kosciusko County. Source: Kosciusko County Health Department

By Liz Shepherd
InkFreeNews

WARSAW — Between noon Thursday, Aug. 20, and noon Tuesday, Aug. 25, the Kosciusko County Health Department reported a total of three new molecular COVID-19 cases. As of Monday, Aug. 24, the Indiana State Department of Health has started adding antigen tests to daily reports.

Before the end of July, the only reportable COVID-19 test was a molecular or PCR test. Since the end of July, the ISDH determined antigen tests to be reportable and investigable but were not added to cumulative reports. However, ISDH has now decided that both antigen and molecular tests are reportable, investigable and added to cumulative reports. Serology, or antibody tests, are still not reportable, investigable or added to cumulative reports. The ISDH has outlined the differences between a molecular, serology and antigen test:

• Serology tests detect the body’s immune response through the production of antibodies.
• Molecular tests (also commonly referred to as PCR) detect the virus’s genetic material.
• Antigen tests detect viral proteins.

Kosciusko County had its first positive COVID-19 antigen test on July 30. As of Aug. 25, the county is reporting 90 positive antigen tests. The county has 994 positive antigen and molecular cases, with 12 deaths.

In regards to molecular COVID-19 cases, currently, 824 Kosciusko County residents have recovered from COVID-19. Three cases are hospitalized active cases, with 65 classified as active. A “hospitalized active case” consists of any active cases that are currently or have been hospitalized at all during their illness. However, consistent with non-hospitalized cases, once their 21-day active period is completed, they are considered recovered.

Statewide, the latest posting on the ISDH website shows the number of COVID-19 deaths in Indiana rose to 3,023.

The total positive number of COVID-19 cases in Indiana is now at 88,421. More than 1,010,000 Hoosiers have been tested for COVID-19.

Locally, Whitley County has 194 positive cases, Fulton County has 198 positive cases and Wabash County has 199 positive cases. Marshall County has 858 positive cases, Noble County has 775 positive cases and Elkhart County has 5,398.

In other northern Indiana counties, Lake County has 8,744 positive cases; Allen County has 4,714 positive cases; and St. Joseph County has 4,692 positive cases.

According to the Johns Hopkins Coronavirus Resource Center, more than 2,020,000 people in the United States have recovered from COVID-19.

A graph shows the number of active, hospitalized active and recovered cases of COVID-19, as well as those who have died due to the virus, in Kosciusko County. Source: Kosciusko County Health Department