On Wednesday, the Indiana State Department of Health (ISDH) reported 6,283 new COVID-19 cases over the previous 24 hours (4,347 new cases on Tuesday), to bring the total so far to 440,850.

ISDH also reported 134 additional deaths on Wednesday (130 on Tuesday), to bring the total to date to 7,136.

The seven-day moving average for per-day COVID-19 deaths on Wednesday was 64 (73 on Tuesday). The seven-day moving average of 75 per-day deaths on Friday, Dec. 11, is the highest ever recorded during the pandemic. The highest recorded during the initial surge was 42 on April 27.

The total COVID-19 death count includes both confirmed and presumptive deaths to date. Presumptive deaths are those for which x-ray, scans, and clinical symptoms all point to COVID-19 but for which no positive test is on record. A total of 320 presumptive deaths was reported on Wednesday, up from 311 on Tuesday.

Meanwhile, ISDH reported 3,192 hospitalizations on Wednesday (3,229 on Tuesday).

On Wednesday, ISDH reported an 11.2 percent availability of ICU beds statewide (23.9 percent on Tuesday). COVID bed use on Wednesday was 39.9 percent (42.3 percent on Tuesday). Non-COVID bed use on Wednesday was 48.9 percent (33.8 percent on Tuesday).

On Wednesday, Marion County reported 60,483 cases and 1,006 deaths (59,531 and 988 on Tuesday), the most in the state in both categories. Lake County reported 35,536 cases and 537 deaths (35,347 and 533), the second most in the state in both categories. LaPorte County reported 6,320 cases and 117 deaths (6,257 and 116).

On Wednesday, ISDH left Porter County’s COVID-19 color status unchanged at Orange 2.5. The color status is the average of two metrics: the seven-day rolling average of new cases per 100,000 residents; and the rolling seven-day average “All Test” positivity rate.

A per-100,000 average of 200 or more earns a Red score (3). Porter County’s per-100,000 average: 488.

An average “All Test” positivity rate of 10 to 14.9 percent earns an Orange score (2). Porter County’s “All Test” positivity rate: 12.44 percent.

ISDH also upgraded 10 counties on Wednesday to Orange. Currently, 26 counties of the 92 counties in Indiana are rated Red, down from 36 last week.

ISDH is next scheduled to update Porter County’s color code on Wednesday, Dec. 23.

Note: the Porter County Health Department, using other metrics such as hospitalizations and deaths, has opted to retain the Code Red status and has issued additional restrictions accordingly, under the authority granted by Executive Order 20-48.

As of Monday, ISDH was reporting 16,383 student cases statewide; 3,404 teacher cases; and 4,118 staff cases.