Lake County’s COVID-19 death toll rose by two to 33 Wednesday, while Porter, LaPorte and Newton counties each reported another death, officials said.
Lake County caseload increased by 57 to 876, according to the Indiana State Department of Health’s daily update. The Porter County Health Department reported its first death in Center Township, which includes Valparaiso, with three deaths total and 135 confirmed county cases, according to its website.
Of those 135 cases, 10 are hospitalized and 52 have recovered, it said. Portage Township leads with 61 cases, followed by Center Township (Valparaiso) with 25 and Westchester Township (Burns Harbor, Chesterton) with 12.
LaPorte County reported 42 total cases with four total deaths, its first new death in 10 days. Newton County also reported its second COVID-19 death, state records show.
Statewide, Indiana’s death toll from the coronavirus outbreak has nearly quadrupled since the beginning of April as state health officials on Wednesday reported 49 additional deaths.
The new COVID-19 death reports occurred between March 28 and Tuesday, increasing the state’s total to 436 deaths, according to the Indiana State Department of Health. Agency statistics show that 111 coronavirus deaths had occurred through March 31.
Indiana’s state health commissioner, Dr. Kristina Box, said this week she expected the coronavirus illness peak in late April for the Indianapolis area and the first weeks of May for rest of the state.
A release Tuesday from Gary Mayor Jerome Prince reported five deaths to date and 185 COVID-19 cases in the city. Gary will offer the Genesis Convention Center as a field hospital and regional coordination site for FEMA, he said Tuesday.
The Gary Health Department is offering drive-through testing until Friday for health care workers, first responders and “essential” workers from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. at St. Timothy Community Church, 1600 W. 21st Ave. Questions can be directed to the city health department at 219-882-5565.
There, 71 people were tested in Gary on its first day Tuesday, an ISDH spokesperson said. People living in the same house as eligible groups that show symptoms can now go get tested starting Wednesday, Box said.
So far, 4,110 tests have been done in Lake, and 1,029 in Porter, according to new state figures.
Forty-four deaths have been reported in the seven-county area, including 33 in Lake, four in LaPorte, three in Porter, two in Newton, and one each in Jasper and Starke counties, according to the state.
The statewide death toll increased by 49 Wednesday, bringing the count to 436, according to the ISDH. Of more than 48,000 people tested for the virus, nearly 9,000 have tested positive.
Almost 90% of Indiana’s deaths have been among people ages 60 and older, according to the state.
Marion County, including Indianapolis, is the state’s epicenter with 155 deaths. It has about 3,200 COVID-19 cases, or roughly 35% of all Indiana cases. Neighboring counties continue to be hard hit, including Hamilton, to the north, with 510 cases, Hendricks, to the east, 360 cases, Johnson, to the south, 347 cases, Madison, to the east, 273 cases.
For most people, the coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough that clear up in two to three weeks. For some, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness, including pneumonia, and death.
The Associated Press contributed.