After deadline on Thursday, the Indiana State Department of Health (ISDH) reported 6,604 new COVID-19 cases over the previous 24 hours (5,853 new cases on Wednesday), to bring the total so far to 404,955.

ISDH also reported 98 additional deaths over the same period (98 additional deaths on Wednesday), to bring the total to date to 6,635.

The seven-day moving average for per-day COVID-19 deaths on Thursday was 62 (68 on Wednesday). Wednesday’s seven-day moving average of 68 per-day deaths 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 301 presumptive deaths was reported on Thursday, up from 299 on Wednesday.

Meanwhile, ISDH reported 3,221 hospitalizations on Thursday (3,244 on Wednesday).

According to ISDH, the most hospitalizations on any given day during the initial surge of the pandemic was 1,799, on April 13.

On Thursday ISDH reported a 20.5 percent availability of ICU beds statewide (20.8 percent on Wednesday). COVID bed use on Thursday was 43.6 percent (43.5 percent). Non-COVID bed use on Thursday was 35.9 percent (35.6 percent).

On Thursday Marion County reported 55,217 cases and 939 deaths (54,204 and 932 on Wednesday), the most in the state in both categories. Lake County reported 33,496 cases and 515 deaths (33,076 and 507), the second most in the state in both categories. LaPorte County reported 5,817 cases and 112 deaths (5,782 and 111).

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 on Thursday: 591.

An average “All Test” positivity rate of 10 to 14.9 percent earns an Orange score (2). Porter County’s “All Test” positivity rate on Dec. 2: 15.4 percent.

ISDH downgraded 20 additional counties on Wednesday to Red. Currently, 36 counties of the 92 counties in Indiana are rated Red, up from 16 last week.

ISDH is next scheduled to update Porter County’s color code on Wednesday, Dec. 16.

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, Dec. 7, ISDH was reporting 14,011 student cases statewide; 2,999 teacher cases; and 3,533 staff cases.