Indiana reports 51 more COVID-19 deaths, 2K more virus cases

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) - Indiana reported 51 more coronavirus-related deaths on Tuesday as the state's new coronavirus infections topped 2,000 for the sixth straight day and its COVID-19 hospitalizations remained at the highest level since April.

The new deaths, which occurred over several days, raised Indiana's pandemic toll to 4,194, including confirmed and presumed coronavirus infections, according to Tuesday's update from the state health department.

Indiana reached a seven-day rolling average of 26 daily deaths last Wednesday. That's nearly three times the average one month prior and the highest level since May.

The health department also reported Tuesday that another 2,062 Hoosiers have been diagnosed with COVID-19, the sixth straight day Indiana has reported more than 2,000 new cases. Indiana's average daily number of new confirmed COVD-19 cases reached 2,282 as of Monday. That is up about 166% from a month ago and has continued rising to the highest level the state has seen during the pandemic.

Indiana's 1,687 coronavirus hospitalizations as of Monday marked the state's most since mid-April and about double the number of hospitalizations reported in late September.

Gov. Eric Holcomb has resisted calls for reinstating coronavirus restrictions since lifting most limits last month - just as the state started recording sharp increases in hospitalizations and new infections.

Holcomb announced last week new steps toward fighting outbreaks in nursing homes, whose residents have accounted for about 55% of Indiana's deaths.