(Indianapolis, IN) - The COVID-19 numbers in La Porte County keep edging up.

According to state health officials, the seven day positivity rate in La Porte County is now

11.8 percent, which is the third highest in the state.  The positivity rate in La Porte County has slowly been inching higher since reaching 10-percent positivity rate several weeks ago.

Dr. Vidya Kora said 18 people are currently hospitalized with the virus at Franciscan Health at Michigan City.  He said nobody was hospitalized there just a few weeks ago.

Kora said the numbers show the vaccine is working because none of the recent hospitalizations at Michigan City involve the elderly because they’re the ones mostly being vaccinated.  He said many of the people hospitalized now are in their 40’s and 50’s.

“I think vaccination is still the best way to go,” Kora said.  Kora also urges people to keep wearing masks and social distance.