Indiana COVID-19 cases dip below 2,000 for first time since December’s spike

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) – Indiana hit a COVID-19 milestone on Tuesday.

For the first time since December, the number of daily coronavirus infections dropped below 2,000. This comes after eight to 10 weeks of a consistent uptick. 

Dr. Christopher Doehring, vice president of medical affairs at Franciscan Health, says these oscillations are not unlike other respiratory virus patterns such as the influenza virus.

“Every year when we go through flu season we see the same thing. The buildup of cases, they sustain for a few weeks or a month or two and then they drop off. That seems to be what we are experiencing now after such high transmission of the virus over the last two months.”

Doehring also said this could mark a turning point for the Hoosier state and Indiana might even be moving towards the back side of the coronavirus curve.

Indiana State Department of Health on Wednesday reported 40 more COVID-19 deaths, bringing the total to 9,470. A total of 617,176 Hoosiers have tested positive for COVID-19.

News 8’s medical reporter, Dr. Mary Elizabeth Gillis, D.Ed., is a classically trained medical physiologist and biobehavioral research scientist. She has been a health, medical and science reporter for over five years. Her work has been featured in national media outlets. You can follow her on Facebook @DrMaryGillis.