By Mitchell Kirk | Daily Reporter
HANCOCK COUNTY — Updated COVID-19 data from the state Wednesday revealed that another Hancock County resident has died from the disease, raising the county’s death toll to 20.
The latest recorded fatality was a man 80 or older who died on May 12, according to information released on the Indiana State Department of Health’s COVID-19 online dashboard. Craig Felty, vice president, chief nursing officer and chief operating officer of Hancock Regional Hospital, said the man died at the hospital.
The Hancock County Health Department could not be reached by press time Wednesday for comment on whether the man had been a resident of a long-term-care facility in the county. As of Monday, residents of long-term care facilities made up 11 of the county’s COVID-19 deaths and 52 of its cases. Greenfield Healthcare Center accounted for 10 of those deaths and 50 of those cases, while Woodland Terrace of New Palestine accounted for one death and two cases.
The latest fatality was the 13th Hancock County resident 80 or older to die from COVID-19. Four of the county’s fatalities were in their 70s, two were in their 60s and one was in their 50s. Nine of the county’s deaths were women and 11 were men.
Most of the state’s COVID-19 deaths, at almost 50%, are also in the 80-and-older age group.
Felty said as of Wednesday that Hancock Regional Hospital was treating three COVID-19 patients and that all were in stable condition.
Hancock County also added six COVID-19 cases Wednesday, raising that total to 276. Total tests for county residents rose to 2,385, 36 more than the day before.
Indiana reported 25,473 residents known to have COVID-19. More than 400 of the latest cases were recorded between March 29 and May 12, according to the state’s online dashboard. The 38 latest deaths occurred between April 22 and May 12 and raised that total to 1,482. Total tests for which results have been received statewide rose to 154,083, the latest 4,259 occurring between March 11 and May 12.
Health experts throughout the pandemic have said that many who get COVID-19 will experience mild symptoms or none at all. Preliminary results released Wednesday of a study led by the Fairbanks School of Public Health at Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis estimates about 186,000 Indiana residents had or previously had COVID-19 by the end of April, more than seven times the number of known cases in the state as of Wednesday.
