IU Health Ball Memorial Hospital in Muncie is still packed with COVID-19 patients.

Hospital spokesperson Neil Gifford told IPR News late Wednesday afternoon the hospital’s Emergency Department remains very busy, even with National Guard personnel still on site helping to staff the hospital.

Ball Memorial is treating 79 COVID patients – 24 of whom are in intensive care.  Gifford says 85 percent of the 79 COVID patients are unvaccinated.  Nearly all of the intensive care COVID patients are unvaccinated.

15 of the 79 COVID patients are under the age of 50.

Health professionals and experts nationwide urge anyone who is not vaccinated to get the shots.  They also urge us all to mask up, social distance, and to wash our hands frequently.

Wednesday, the Indiana Department of Health reported 4,732 new COVID-19 cases.  87 more Hoosiers have been killed by the coronavirus.  Delaware County reports 72 new cases.  Five more county residents have died from COVID-19.