From left, Indiana State Health Commissioner Dr. Kristina Box and Governor Eric Holcomb provide Hoosiers with an update on the COVID-19 pandemic.

By Liz Shepherd
InkFreeNews

WARSAW — In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, Governor Eric Holcomb extended Indiana’s public health emergency through an executive order. The executive order remains in effect through Feb. 1.

In a press conference on Wednesday, Dec. 29, Holcomb said COVID-19 variants Delta and Omicron have “challenged recovery efforts” throughout the state.

Holcomb also thanked healthcare workers for their hard work and diligence during the pandemic.

“There aren’t enough eloquent words in the English language for me to say thank you to those individuals who complete shift after shift, who have been doing this for two straight years now,” said Holcomb. “Everyone that’s had a hand in helping us navigate day after day, I want to say thank you. You have gone up and beyond, over and over and over again. You’re making a huge difference, one family at a time.”

Indiana State Health Commissioner Dr. Kristina Box gave updates regarding COVID-19 cases and vaccinations. More than 3.5 million Hoosiers are fully vaccinated, with 1.3 million having received their booster shot.

“That’s a remarkable achievement made possible only by the tireless dedication of researchers, public health workers, the Indiana National Guard, and our healthcare workers across the state,” said Box. “Unfortunately, COVID-19 is determined to keep us on our toes.”

COVID-19 hospitalizations have grown more than 700% since late June of this year.

“Cases are on the rise and we’re seeing a larger portion of cases in people ages 40 and under compared to this time last year,” said Box.

Box also discussed the national shortage with rapid tests for COVID-19. The state is actively looking for other sources for rapid tests.

“This is a national problem and it’s making it more difficult for Hoosiers to find rapid testing,” said Box. “That has led to overwhelming demand.”

COVID-19 Data Updates

The state’s positivity rate is currently hovering around 14%, with all counties either in the “orange” or “red” category on the Indiana Department of Health’s color-coded map. The map measures percent positivity and new cases per 100,000 residents, with the baseline for red being 15%.

The color-coded county metrics map on the IDH website shows a majority of counties in the “orange” 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 seven-day positivity rate between 10% and 14.9% and/or 100 to 199 new weekly cases per 100,000 residents. Source: Indiana Department of Health

However, the state of Indiana is beginning to turn more “orange.”

Elkhart and Fulton Counties have moved back into the “orange” category, with 13.7% and 13.5% positivity rates, respectively. Fulton County is “orange” on the advisory level map while Elkhart County will remain “red” for an additional week unless their positivity rate or case numbers increase.

Marshall County has entered the “red” category with a 17.8% positivity rate. Kosciusko County remains in the “red” as well with a 15.4% positivity rate.

Statewide, 38% of ICU beds in hospitals are being used for COVID-19 patients, with 9.2% of ICU beds in hospitals available. 15.7% of ventilators in use statewide are also for COVID-19 cases.

Since Dec. 16, Kosciusko County has reported eight new COVID-19 deaths. This brings the county to 179 COVID-19 deaths and 15,758 positive cases.

Marshall County recently reported one new COVID-19 death. This brings Marshall County to 157 deaths and 10,020 positive cases.

Fulton and Wabash Counties each recently reported two new COVID-19 deaths. Fulton County has reported 83 deaths and 3,935 positive cases. Wabash County has reported 129 deaths and 6,824 positive cases.

The number of COVID-19 cases reported in Indiana statewide ranges anywhere from 1,800 to 7,900 new cases being reported daily. On Tuesday, Dec. 28, the state reported 7,941 positive cases. This has been the highest daily number the state has seen since December 2020.

More than 31,300 people in Kosciusko County have been fully vaccinated for COVID-19.

More than 3,549,000 Hoosiers are considered to be fully vaccinated for COVID-19. According to statewide demographics, about 51% of those fully vaccinated are individuals who are 50 and older. About 53% of people fully vaccinated are female.

Statewide, the IDH website shows the number of COVID-19 deaths in Indiana rose to 18,338.

The total positive number of reported COVID-19 cases in Indiana is now at 1,234,919. More than 16,544,000 COVID-19 tests have been administered to Hoosiers.

Since the pandemic began, Whitley County has reported 7,310 positive cases, Noble County has reported 10,162 positive cases, and Elkhart County has 43,238.

In other northern Indiana counties, Lake County has 83,065 positive cases; Allen County has 74,369 positive cases; and St. Joseph County has 55,012 positive cases.

According to the Johns Hopkins Coronavirus Resource Center, about 821,000 people in the United States have died of COVID-19.

Vaccination Percentages by ZIP Code

COVID-19 vaccination percentages by county ZIP code are available on the state’s management performance hub.

• 46582 (Warsaw area) 49% of residents
• 46538 (Leesburg) 46% of residents
• 46555 (North Webster) 46% of residents
• 46580 (Warsaw) 46% of residents
• 46567 (Syracuse) 44% of residents
• 46506 (Bremen area) 43% of residents
• 46962 (North Manchester area) 43% of residents
• 46508 (Burket) 42% of residents
• 46590 (Winona Lake) 42% of residents
• 46910 (Akron) 40% of residents
• 46542 (Milford) 37% of residents
• 46787 (South Whitley) 37% of residents
• 46562 (Pierceton) 34% of residents
• 46982 (Silver Lake) 34% of residents
• 46732 (Cromwell) 33% of residents
• 46504 (Bourbon) 31% of residents
• 46510 (Claypool) 27% of residents
• 46539 (Mentone) 27% of residents
• 46550 (Nappanee) 25% of residents
• 46524 (Etna Green) 22% of residents