INDIANAPOLIS — Indiana had the 36th worst per capita COVID-19 mortality rate in the world last week, according to an analysis conducted by the Federation of American Scientists.
The state recorded 7.6 deaths per million residents in the seven-day period ending Saturday. That was a higher death rate than countries such as Portugal, Uganda, Moldova, Greece, Jordan and the United Kingdom.
In the Midwest, which is experiencing a surge in cases, Indiana ranked lower than Wisconsin (18), Illinois (20), Iowa (25) and Minnesota (32) and worse than Michigan (38).
North Dakota and South Dakota have the highest and second-highest COVID-19 mortality rates in the world, a chart tweeted by Eric Feigl-Ding, an epidemiologist, health economist and senior fellow with the Federation of American Scientists, said.
4) and now, the Dakotas have the highest #COVID19 mortality in the world, as well as many Midwest and Great Plains states.
— Eric Feigl-Ding (@DrEricDing) November 24, 2020
(Analysis by my FAS team) pic.twitter.com/x8BlNkYQ1e
Since Sunday, Indiana has surpassed both 5,000 confirmed deaths and 300,000 cases since the COVID-19 pandemic began in March. In recent weeks, the state has set multiple single-day records for new coronavirus cases.
Indiana has also set 18 records for hospitalizations in November. The Indiana State Department of Health reported Monday that an all-time high 3,219 Hoosiers are receiving care for COVID-19 in the state's hospitals.
The rising numbers of cases, hospitalizations and deaths have led state and local officials to issue a new round of restrictions on businesses, restaurants and schools.
On Nov. 11, Gov. Eric Holcomb announced new capacity limits for events based on the state's color-coded map showing levels of cases in counties around Indiana.
“Unfortunately, too many of us have let our guards down,” Holcomb said.
The next day, Indianapolis Mayor Joe Hogsett announced new restrictions on indoor events and restaurants and said all Marion County schools must go virtual by Nov. 30.
“The new statewide surge shows no sign of stopping,” Hogsett said.
The Hamilton County Health Department also issued new guidelines on Monday that will go into effect at midnight Wednesday.
