State reports 440 new cases

After consecutive days hovering around the 300 mark, new cases of coronavirus jumped back up today.

Indiana State Department of Health’s update today shows 440 new cases, bringing the state’s total to nearly 9,000.

The state also reported 49 new deaths, the second-highest total thus far, which includes the first in Blackford County.

This afternoon, Jay County reported a new case of COVID-19, bringing its total to eight.

Ohio reported 511 new cases this afternoon, bringing its total to 7,791. It also had 37 new deaths for a total of 361.

On Tuesday afternoon, Blackford County Health Department announced the county’s first death related to COVID-19. The patient died while hospitalized. No further details were released because of privacy laws.

Blackford County now has six confirmed cases of the disease. It was one of the final 10 counties in the state to have a confirmed case, with its first coming April 1.

Case counts in other area counties are as follows: Delaware – 77; Darke – 52; Mercer – 13; Randolph – 11; Adams – six; and Wells – four. Delaware County has had four deaths, and Adams and Randolph counties have each had one.

Indiana’s increase of 440 new cases is up from 308 and 313, respectively, in the reports Monday and Tuesday. The new death total is second only to the 55 reported Friday.

Marion County (Indianapolis) has just under 36 percent of Indiana's total cases. Lake County (Gary) is next at 9.7 percent.

This story will be updated after Ohio’s numbers are released at 2 p.m.