In the past week, Indiana has the nation’s second highest per capita COVID-19 spread, after Rhode Island, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
That trend appears to show the state’s outlook is getting worse, even as cases and hospitalization rates hit all-time highs recently.
The C.D.C. reported Indiana had 48,000 new coronavirus cases reported in the past week, or 103.1 per 100,000. Rhode Island, reported 8,100 new cases, or 110.6 per 100,000.
Indiana reported 124 new virus deaths Tuesday, with more than 6,100 total deaths and 300 more suspected deaths. With 485,000 people, Lake County hit 500 virus deaths Tuesday. By comparison, South Korea, a country of 51 million, has 552 COVID-19 deaths.
Porter County has had 122 deaths, according to the county health department’s online dashboard.
Indiana’s District 1, which includes hospitals in Lake, Porter, LaPorte, Jasper and Newton counties, reported 456 hospitalizations on Sunday, down from an all-time high of 588 on Nov. 30.
After a couple of spikes in mid-to-late November, Gary is averaging around 50 new daily cases, according to the city health department’s dashboard. It is now waiting to see if there is a big spike after Thanksgiving, Health Commissioner Roland Walker said previously.
Gary reported one COVID-19 death in December, with 105 total.
Community Hospital in Munster was recently selected as one of five Indiana pilot hospitals to distribute a COVID-19 vaccine to frontline medical workers. If approved, it could start getting shipments before Christmas, officials said. Nursing home residents and older or high-risk individuals with conditions like cancer, kidney disease and type 2 diabetes would follow.
A second phase could cover those who were likelier to catch the virus at work: correctional facilities, group homes, shelters, or essential workers. Phase 3, for the general public could be expected next summer, according to a hospital news release.
The virus is the third highest cause of death in the U.S. after heart disease and cancer.
![By ADRIANA GOMEZ LICON and DARLENE SUPERVILLE (Associated Press) WASHINGTON (AP) — Vice President Kamala Harris on Monday said the first rule to set minimum staffing levels at federally funded nursing homes and require that a certain portion of the taxpayer dollars they receive go toward wages for care workers is a long-overdue “milestone” that […]](https://www.chicagotribune.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Election_2024-Harris_89203.jpg?w=525 "By ADRIANA GOMEZ LICON and DARLENE SUPERVILLE (Associated Press) WASHINGTON (AP) — Vice President Kamala Harris on Monday said the first rule to set minimum staffing levels at federally funded nursing homes and require that a certain portion of the taxpayer dollars they receive go toward wages for care workers is a long-overdue “milestone” that […]")
