Starke County has reported its 38th COVID-19 death. It happened Saturday, according to Thursday’s update from the Indiana Department of Health. Starke County also reported 37 new cases of COVID-19, its second-highest single-day increase of the pandemic. Almost 1,500 Starke County residents have had the coronavirus since the pandemic began.
Another 26 positive cases were reported in Marshall County for a total of 4,322, while Pulaski County had 21 more positive cases, bringing the total to 804.
This week’s county metrics map moved Pulaski County back to the red status, but noted that a large number of last week’s cases were in congregate settings. As of December 16, the most recent date for which Indiana Department of Health information is available, Parkview Haven in Francesville was up to 23 resident cases and 11 deaths, while Hickory Creek in Winamac had 12 resident cases in the final two days of the reporting period. Pulaski Health Care Center in Winamac, which was the site of an earlier outbreak, had no new cases since mid-November. At least 21 of the county’s 31 deaths were residents of long-term care facilities.
In Knox, Golden Living Center was up to 16 resident cases and seven deaths, while Wintersong Village had seen 12 resident cases and fewer than five deaths. Thirty-three positive cases have been reported at the Catherine Kasper Home in Donaldson, with fewer than five deaths. Signature Healthcare of Bremen has had 35 of its residents test positive; fewer than five have died.
Of all the long-term care facilities in Marshall, Starke, and Pulaski counties, only Pilgrim Manor in Plymouth and Hickory Creek hadn’t reported any resident COVID-19 deaths, as of December 16.
The state as a whole reported nearly 6,300 new positive cases Thursday. Another 85 confirmed deaths were added to the state’s count, pushing the total to almost 7,400.
