A bar graph shows the number of positive COVID-19 cases in Kosciusko County by day. Graph by the Kosciusko County Health Department.

By Liz Shepherd
InkFreeNews

WARSAW — The Kosciusko County Health Department reported a second COVID-19 death in the county on Monday, June 1, and saw another substantial jump in the number of cases in recent days.

The county now has a total of two virus-related deaths. Kosciusko County has not had a COVID-19 death since April 8.

As of noon Monday, June 1, KCHD also reported 39 new cases of COVID-19. This brings the county’s number of positive cases to 159.

According to Nichole LaLonde, KCHD epidemiologist, the health department has taken numerous actions to attempt to mitigate the current increase of cases in Kosciusko County.

• As of May 18, the Indiana State Department of Health assumed responsibility for case investigations and contact tracing. However, due to the rise in cases in Kosciusko County, KCHD will resume reaching out to all positive COVID-19 Kosciusko County residents.
• KCHD is partnering with local community resources to improve access and communication to the under-served communities.

The Marshall County Health Department also reported its second COVID-19 death on Saturday, May 30. Marshall County has 111 positive cases, which is up from 90 reported on Friday, May 29. The total number of tests administered in the county is 1,726.

Statewide, the latest posting on the ISDH website shows the number of COVID-19 deaths in Indiana rose to 1,976.

The total positive number of COVID-19 cases in Indiana is now at 34,830. More than 265,000 Hoosiers have been tested for COVID-19.

Locally, Whitley County has 43 positive cases, Fulton County has 49 positive cases, Wabash County has 79 positive cases, and Noble County has 237 positive cases.

Elkhart County has 1,322 positive cases, which is up from 1,163 reported on Friday.

In other northern Indiana counties, Lake County has 3,639 positive cases, which is up from 3,538 on Friday; Allen County has 1,662 positive cases, which is up from 1,451 reported on Friday; and St. Joseph County has 1,286 positive cases.

Marion County, which includes Indianapolis, has the most cases in the state at 9,900.

According to the Johns Hopkins Coronavirus Resource Center, more than 444,000 people have recovered from COVID-19.