Indiana's pandemic death toll tops 13K with 20 more deaths

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) - Another 20 Indiana residents have died from COVID-19, pushing the state's pandemic toll to more than 13,000 deaths over the past year, state health officials said Friday.

The additional deaths raised Indiana's pandemic death toll to 13,002 confirmed or presumed coronavirus-related deaths, the Indiana Department of Health said.

The state agency also reported that another 1,136 Hoosiers have been diagnosed with COVID-19, boosting to 682,099 the number of Indiana residents known to have had the coronavirus.

State heath officials announced Thursday that more than 1 million Indiana residents had been fully vaccinated against COVID-19, with state's health commissioner Dr. Kris Box calling the accomplishment 'œan exciting milestone.'ť

The health department said Friday that a total of 1,561,705 first doses of vaccine have been administered across Indiana, and 1,042,768 Hoosiers - more than 15% of Indiana's population- have been fully vaccinated against COVID-19.

Hoosiers age 40 and older, along with healthcare workers, long-term care residents, first responders are currently eligible to receive a COVID-19 vaccine. Educators up to grade 12, along with other school workers such as classroom aides and bus drivers are also eligible.

Eligible Hoosiers can schedule an appointment to receive a vaccine by visiting https://ourshot.in.gov or calling 211 if they do not have access to a computer, or require assistance.