INDIANAPOLIS — Indiana’s hospitals have been pushed to the limit during the omicron surge as nearly half of the state’s population remains unvaccinated against COVID-19.
A new WalletHub study points to just how bad the situation has become in the Hoosier State: Indiana is the second least safe state during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Indiana ranked 50th on the list of “Safest States During COVID-19,” which includes the 50 states, plus Washington D.C. Only Oklahoma is worse off than Indiana, according to WalletHub.
The rankings take into account vaccination rate, positive testing rate, hospitalization rate, death rate and transmission rate.
The five categories are averaged together and graded on a 100-point scale, with 100 representing the safest conditions. Indiana came out with a score of 18.35 out of 100.
According to the study, Indiana is 49th in vaccination rate, 40th in positive testing rate, 32nd in hospitalization rate, 45th in death rate and 18th in transmission rate through Wednesday.
The Indiana National Guard and federal medical personnel teams are still assisting at hospitals around the state, including IU Health Methodist Hospital, as heath care officials plead with Hoosiers to get vaccinated saying, "We can't do this alone."
On Wednesday, the Indiana Department of Health reported 129 COVID-19 deaths, 5,536 new positive cases and 3,206 hospitalizations. The state’s 7-day positivity rate among all tests was 30.5%.
Nearly 20,300 Hoosiers are confirmed to have died from COVID-19 since the beginning of the pandemic.
-
Tyrese Haliburton confirmed out for next season following Achilles injury
The Indiana Pacers have officially confirmed that star guard Tyrese Haliburton will miss the entire 2025-2026 season after he tore his Achilles.Indianapolis city-county council revisits curfew ordinance after mass shooting
The Indianapolis City-County Council is re-evaluating its curfew ordinance following a mass shooting in downtown Indianapolis that left two teenagers dead, and 5 other people injured.Mass shooting in downtown Indy leads to gun charges against four teens
Marion County Prosecutor Ryan Mears announced Monday that four people, including three juveniles, have been charged in connection with Saturday's mass shooting in downtown Indianapolis.Body of 14-year-old boy recovered from lake on Indy's northeast side
Authorities are searching for a 14-year-old boy who went missing in a lake near Kessler Boulevard and Fall Creek Parkway on Sunday. He reportedly went under while swimming from a pontoon boat.