Indiana Officials Confident COVID-19 Testing Is Increasing

Brandon Smith

Article origination IPBS-RJC

Eli Lilly has expanded its drive-thru testing for COVID-19 to "front-line essential" workers, such as grocery store cashiers.
*Alan Mbathi/IPB News*

Indiana officials say the state’s capacity to test people for COVID-19 is increasing, even as the growth in testing slowed over the last few days.

State Health Commissioner Dr. Kris Box says some of that is because the state can’t control when outside labs report their testing numbers. She says she’s confident testing is increasing.

“I can just tell you that I know that we had Deaconess Hospital come online with testing," Box says. "We have individuals working at Purdue University to get more testing. We have the new lab in the northwest part of the state that is doing testing.”

President Donald Trump recently said he hadn’t heard from any governors recently about a need for more tests. Gov. Eric Holcomb says he’s always asking.

“Every time I talk to anyone I say ‘We need more. Pour it on.’ We’re not content right now," Holcomb says. "We can always use more.”

LEE MAS: ¿Puedo Salir A Caminar? Esto Es Lo Que Significa Una Orden De Permanecer En Casa

Indiana limits testing for people who are hospitalized, health care workers, first responders and front-line essential workers, like grocery store cashiers, and, now, symptomatic people who are in high-risk categories, including pregnant women.

Contact Brandon at bsmith@ipbs.org or follow him on Twitter at @brandonjsmith5.

This is a rapidly evolving story, and we are working hard to bring you the most up-to-date information. However, we recommend checking the websites of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention or the Indiana State Department of Health for the most recent numbers of COVID-19 cases.

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