Indiana's average COVID-19 daily deaths pass April peak

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) - Almost one in six of Indiana's COVID-19 infections during the pandemic have been confirmed in the past week as the state's daily average of coronavirus deaths has reached its highest level following a steep increase since September.

The Indiana Department of Health's daily update on Thursday reported 59 more coronavirus deaths occurring over the past several days. Those raised the state's seven-day rolling average of COVID-19 deaths to 43 per day, passing the previous peak in late April.

The state was averaging about 10 daily deaths in late September when the current surge of new infections and hospitalizations began.

Indiana has now recorded 5,143 coronavirus deaths, including both those with confirmed and presumed infections.

The nearly 7,500 new infections reported Thursday give the state almost 45,000 confirmed cases in one week's time, or about 16% of all such infections since first Indiana case was confirmed about 8 1/2 months ago. The state's moving seven-day average of new infections is about seven times higher than in September when Gov. Eric Holcomb lifted nearly all business and crowd size restrictions.

Holcomb reinstated crowd limits last week and has appealed for people to abide by the statewide mask mandate as steep increases in COVID-19 patients are straining hospitals around the state.

Indiana hospitals were treating 3,063 COVID-19 patients as of Wednesday - a 300% increase since late September.