Indiana positive coronavirus cases approach 70,000

St. Joseph County health officals reported 22 new coronavirus positive tests Wednesday, bringing the total so far to 3,217. The county reported no new deaths, with the number being 91.

The county also is reporting 619 active cases. According to the school reopening guidelines issued last week by county health officials and followed by the school districts, the level is in the red zone. To be in the green zone, there would have to be less than 280 active cases.

The county also is averaging 47.1 cases per day for the past seven days, which also is in the red category for the school reopening guidelines. To be in the yellow zone, there would need to be 14-28 cases, and a green designation would mean there would need to be less than 14 average cases for the past week.

The county’s R0 estimate — the level of how infectious a disease is — is 0.78, which is in the yellow category. A level less than 0.7 would place it in the green zone for school reopening guidelines.

Test positivity rate for the county is 4.7%, in the green zone. A level of less than 5% is considered green for school reopening guidelines.

The state of Indiana is reporting 740 new positive coronavirus cases for a total of 69,975. Twelve new deaths pushed the total deaths in the Hoosier state over 2,800 to 2,805.

In Elkhart County, there were 4,680 positive cases with 79 reported deaths. Marshall County has 752 cases with 22 deaths, and LaPorte County is reporting 850 cases with 29 deaths.