Indiana coronavirus death toll tops 550 since mid-March

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Indiana’s coronavirus death toll has jumped by 17 more people as state health officials reported Sunday at least 562 virus-related deaths in little more than a month.

The newly reported deaths happened between April 11 and Saturday, according to the Indiana State Department of Health. The new reports give this past Tuesday the state’s highest single day of COVID-19 deaths at 35. Two days earlier in April each have 34 deaths recorded. The first death was recorded on March 15.

The health department also said tests had confirmed 577 more COVID-19 illnesses around Indiana, raising the state’s total to more than 11,200 since the first cases were confirmed in early March. That's even as testing has largely been limited to seriously ill people or health care workers.

Gov. Eric Holcomb announced Friday he would be extending the statewide stay-at-home order until May 1 to slow the coronavirus spread. Holcomb said state officials are working on plans for reopening parts of the state’s economy after the stay-at-home order was first imposed March 25.

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Hundreds of people watched from their vehicles as a funeral honored a Terre Haute firefighter who died from the coronavirus illness.

Vehicles filled the West Vigo High School parking lot during the outdoor service for 41-year-old firefighter and paramedic John Schoffstall. Fellow firefighters wore black face masks with Schoffstall’s name and badge number during the funeral and tossed white carnations toward his casket as they drove past it.

Schoffstall’s mother is also ill with COVD-19 and couldn’t attend the funeral. His father, Rex Schoffstall, asked for prayers.

“I know John’s looking after his mom,” he said. “I don’t...