11 unreported virus deaths added to Indiana county’s total

Eleven additional coronavirus-related deaths dating back to mid-April have been added to the toll for northeastern Indiana’s Allen County, state health officials announced Friday.

Those fatalities boost the total for Allen County, which includes Fort Wayne, to 128 deaths and give it the third-highest level in the state behind only Indiana’s largest counties, Marion and Lake. The deaths occurring between April 19 and June 22 were not initially reported, the Indiana State Department of Health said.

Eight other COVID-19 deaths were also added to the state total, increasing to 2,681 the number of deaths involving people with confirmed or presumed coronavirus infections.

Gov. Eric Holcomb decided this past week to keep capacity limits in place for restaurants, bars and entertainment venues until at least July 18 because. He cited worries about a possible increase in coronavirus cases across the state even though deaths and hospitalizations have dropped significantly over the past month.

Three northern Indiana counties have mandated wearing face masks in public places, while Indianapolis starts a similar requirement next week.

The latest state statistics showed COVID-19 hospitalizations and intensive care unit admissions are about one-third the levels reported in April. Indiana hospitals still had 215 COVID-19 patients in their intensive care units on Thursday, with half of the state’s ICU beds available.