The number of counties in red in Indiana increased in the past week; Kosciusko County is now orange.

By Liz Shepherd
InkFreeNews

WARSAW — Kosciusko County’s COVID-19 positivity rate is now in the “orange” category, according to  the method used by the state to track COVID-19 metrics.

The county’s positivity rate is 14.9%, according to the state dashboard. This is a decrease from a 16.3% positivity rate reported last week.

Indiana Department of Health relies on a color-coded county map that measures percent positivity and new cases per 100,000 residents. The baseline for red is 15%.

Marshall and Whitley Counties remain in the “red” category, with 19.5% and 22% positivity rates, respectively; both of these rates have increased since last week. Elkhart County moved to the “orange” category this week with a 14.7% positivity rate.

Under Gov. Eric Holcomb’s pandemic requirements, social gatherings of any kind in red counties are limited to 25 people.

Through these requirements, social and holiday gathering participation is not advised. All business capacity must adhere to strict social distancing guidelines; curbside pickup is preferred. Hospitals and long-term care establishments may impose visitation limits.

The color-coded county metrics map on the IDH website shows 57 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. Red counties are categorized as such when they have a 15% or greater seven-day positivity rate and/or 200 or more new weekly cases per 100,000 residents. Source: Indiana Department of Health

Kosciusko County has also had four new COVID-19 deaths, according to the IDH website.

The county has now recorded 74 deaths and 7,155 cases, which is up from 7,040 reported on Monday, Jan. 4.

Marshall County Health Department reported one new COVID-19 death, bringing the county’s total to 82. Marshall County has 4,649 positive cases.

The Fulton County Health Department also recently reported one new COVID-19 death, bringing the county’s total to 28. Fulton County has 1,456 positive cases.

Whitley County Health Department reported two new COVID-19 deaths, bringing the county’s total to 23. Whitley County has 2,617 positive cases.

Statewide, the IDH website shows the number of COVID-19 deaths in Indiana rose to 8,371, which is up from 8,150 reported on Monday.

The total positive number of reported COVID-19 cases in Indiana is now at 539,229. More than 5,894,000 COVID-19 tests have been administered to Hoosiers.

Locally, Wabash County has 2,702 positive cases, Noble County has 4,282 positive cases and Elkhart County has 23,199.

In other northern Indiana counties, Lake County has 41,432 positive cases, which is up from 40,959 reported on Monday; Allen County has 29,369 positive cases, which is up from 28,906 reported on Monday; and St. Joseph County has 25,095 positive cases.

According to the Johns Hopkins Coronavirus Resource Center, more than 358,000 people in the United States have died due to COVID-19.

888 people in Kosciusko County have been administered their first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine.