Indiana reports 39 new COVID-19 deaths; 5,400 new cases

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) - The state health department reported 39 additional COVID-19 deaths Saturday in Indiana, raising the confirmed total to 8,055.

Another 355 probable deaths have been reported based on diagnoses, although no positive tests were recorded. The health department also reported 5,429 new virus cases.

On Thursday, a bell tolled 121 times at St. Andrew Episcopal Church in Kokomo for each Howard County resident who has died from COVID-19.

'œAs you can imagine, it's not joyful, but it's important. It's about healing, and that's something we felt like we needed to express," church member Greg Wall told the Kokomo Tribune.

Wall helped hang prayer flags for people who died.

'œThe flags are all different, which is meaningful,'ť said Karen Altergott Roberts, a church member and retired pastor. 'œThere are no two alike, because there are no two people alike. To remember and lift up a life is very fulfilling. I wish we could name them all, but we can't. But we will remember them all as individuals.'ť