Indiana Hits 4,000 Confirmed COVID-19 Deaths

The Indiana State Department of Health reported Thursday its 4,000th death since the beginning of the coronavirus pandemic. After a late summer lull, the rate has picked up as cases have increased.

Of the 4,024 Hoosiers who are confirmed to have died from COVID-19, 57.3 percent are from long-term care facilities. 

State health officials say there are an additional 236 suspected COVID-19 deaths – where a test wasn’t administered but health care professionals believe the person had the virus.

The rate of newly reported deaths had slowed at the end of the summer, averaging around 10 deaths per day from the end of June to the middle of September.

But since mid-September, Indiana’s reported deaths have continued to grow, with 188 new deaths reported in the last week. That recent increase has put the state's weekly death toll in the same range as it was in late May.

Since moving to Stage 5, the state has reported 634 deaths – with Lake, St. Joseph and Vanderburgh counties reporting more than 40 each in that time frame.

More populous counties aren’t exclusively experiencing the increase in deaths: Pike County – which has seen a 130 percent increase in cases – has also had 17 new deaths since the state went to Stage 5. Before September, it had had one. 

Contact Lauren at lchapman@wfyi.org or follow her on Twitter at @laurenechapman_.