A graph shows the number of reported statewide COVID-19 deaths by day. Source: Indiana Department of Health

By Liz Shepherd
InkFreeNews

WARSAW — Two new COVID-19 deaths were reported in Kosciusko County, according to the Indiana Department of Health website.

The county has now recorded 66 deaths and 6,485 cases; Kosciusko’s case number is up from 6,399 reported on Monday, Dec. 21.

While Kosciusko County remains in the orange category, two neighboring counties — Elkhart and Whitley — remain in the “red” category in the method used by the state to track COVID-19 metrics.

IDH relies on a color-coded county map that measures weekly cases per 100,000 residents and the seven-day positivity rate for all tests completed.

The baseline for red is 15 percent.

Kosciusko County’s positivity rate is 13.5%, according to the state dashboard. This is a decrease from a 14.5% positivity rate reported last week.

The color-coded county metrics map on the IDH website shows a majority of Indiana counties in the “orange” category, with 24 counties in the “red” category. Color-coded county metrics are based on each county’s seven-day positivity rate and the number of newly reported weekly cases per 100,000 residents. Orange counties are categorized as such when they have a 10 to 14.9% seven-day positivity rate and/or 100 to 199 new weekly cases per 100,000 residents. Source: Indiana Department of Health

Elkhart and Whitley Counties have 15.7% and 18.4% positivity rates, respectively; both of these rates have decreased since last week.

Under Gov. Eric Holcomb’s pandemic requirements, social gatherings of any kind in red counties are limited to 25 people. A special, seasonal or commercial event for which more than 25 people will be in attendance must submit a plan to the local health department at least seven days in advance and receive approval before proceeding. College and professional sports are included.

The Marshall County Health Department recently reported two new COVID-19 deaths, bringing the county’s total to 68. Marshall County has 4,296 positive cases.

Wabash County Health Department also recently reported an additional COVID-19 death, bringing the county’s total to 39. Wabash County has 2,480 positive cases.

Statewide, the IDH website shows the number of COVID-19 deaths in Indiana rose to 7,306, which is up from 7,101 reported on Monday.

The total positive number of reported COVID-19 cases in Indiana is now at 476,538. More than 5,376,000 COVID-19 tests have been administered to Hoosiers.

Locally, Fulton County has 1,306 positive cases, Whitley County has 2,280 positive cases, Noble County has 3,784 positive cases and Elkhart County has 21,981.

In other northern Indiana counties, Lake County has 37,686 positive cases, which is up from 37,301 reported on Monday; Allen County has 26,354 positive cases, which is up from 25,936 reported on Monday; and St. Joseph County has 23,180 positive cases.

According to the Johns Hopkins Coronavirus Resource Center, more than 323,000 people in the United States have died due to COVID-19.