(INDIANAPOLIS) — 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.
Tests also confirmed 440 more COVID-19 illnesses, boosting Indiana’s total number of cases to nearly 9,000.
Almost 90% of Indiana’s deaths have been among people ages 60 and older.
Elderly people and those with serious health troubles living in nursing homes are among the most at-risk from COVID-19 infections. At least 46 residents of 12 long-term care facilities in Indiana have died from the virus, including 22 patients from an Anderson nursing home, according to the state health department.
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.
