(Indianapolis, IN) - The number of COVID-19 cases is still ticking up.  Here in La Porte County, the number of people testing positive the past seven days is now 9.3%, according to the Indiana Department of Health.  The positivity rate here was 8.9% yesterday.

A month ago, La Porte County had a positivity rate of 3.2%, according to IDH officials.   Dr. Vidya Kora says the numbers are reflected at his medical practice and at the hospital outside Michigan City.  "There were a few weeks that I had no COVID patients. Zero. Neither in the office nor at the hospital. Now, over the last week or 10 days, I have seen again started seeing COVID patients in the office as well as in the hospital,” he said.

Kora said there were five patients today at the hospital outside Michigan City.  He also said the situation, despite the rising cases, is still much better than it was a few months ago when up to 40 patients were hospitalized near Michigan City.

Kora said the best thing people can do is get vaccinated and exercise caution until herd immunity develops at some point in the coming months.