Indiana reports 46 more dead; statewide total tops 1,700

INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. (AP) - Forty-six more Indiana residents have died from coronavirus illnesses, putting the state's pandemic death toll from confirmed or presumed cases of COVID-19 above 1,700, health officials said Saturday.

The majority of the newly confirmed COVID-19 deaths occurred Thursday and Friday, according to data collected by the Indiana State Department of Health.

Meanwhile, there was a line of vehicles as long as 3 miles as people drove up to get boxes of meat, fruit and vegetables at the state fairgrounds.

'œIt was worth the wait, honestly. It's been very helpful for my family,'ť said Lyneca Sims, 37, who was put out of work when many retailers were required to shut down. 'œIt's really nice that they're offering the fresh fruits instead of the canned.'ť

Statewide, 27,280 people in Indiana have tested positive for the coronavirus since the pandemic began. That includes 656 additional people whose testing results were confirmed Friday. The number of infections is thought to be far higher because many people have not been tested, and studies suggest people can be infected with the virus without feeling sick.

Health officials said 1,596 Indiana residents were confirmed to have died of COVID-19. An additional 145 deaths are considered to be coronavirus-related by doctors but without confirmation of the illness from test results.

For most people, the coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough. But for others, especially older people and those with existing health conditions, it can cause severe symptoms and lead to death.

Officials say people with symptoms of COVID-19 or who need a test to return to work after being exposed to the virus can be tested at state-run sites. The state also is encouraging those without symptoms but considered high risk because of their age or health conditions to get tested.

The state health department said it is holding drive-thru testing clinics through Sunday in Bluffton and Gary in northern Indiana, the western Indiana city of Sullivan and in Madison in southern Indiana. The state agency's full list of testing sites around the state can be found at www.coronavirus.in.gov.