INDIANA (WPTA21) - Indiana Health Officials announced the third Hoosier to have died from COVID-19 Friday afternoon.

Officials said the patient is an adult resident of Marion County over age 60 who had been hospitalized.

ISDH reported 23 new cases of COVID-19 Friday, bringing to 79 the number of Hoosiers diagnosed through ISDH, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and private laboratories.

All but one are adults.

“Losing a loved one is devastating, and it’s troubling to see the toll that COVID-19 is taking on elderly residents here in Indiana and across the country,” said State Health Commissioner Kris Box, M.D., FACOG.

“I implore Hoosiers to continue to stay home if they’re sick and practice social distancing so that we can halt the spread of this virus and protect the most vulnerable among us.”

COVID-19 is a respiratory illness caused by a novel, or new, coronavirus that has not been previously identified.

The virus causing COVID-19 is not the same as the coronaviruses that commonly circulate among humans and cause mild illness, like the common cold.

There is no vaccine and no treatment. Human coronaviruses most commonly spread from an infected person to others through:

Human coronaviruses most commonly spread from an infected person to others through:

Respiratory droplets released into the air by coughing and sneezing;

Close personal contact, such as touching or shaking hands;

Touching an object or surface with the virus on it, then touching your mouth, nose, or eyes before washing your hands; and

Rarely, fecal contamination.

The best ways to protect yourself are to wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, avoid touching your face with unwashed hands, avoid close contact with people who are sick, stay home when you’re sick, cover your cough or sneeze and clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces.

There are now four confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Allen County residents.

Updates to confirmed cases in Allen County will be found at the top of the Department’s COVID-19 webpage at www.allencountyhealth.com/covid-19 and will be time-stamped to keep the public informed with the latest information.

Because of a delay in private lab reporting to the state, the case count provided by the Indiana State Department of Health at www.in.gov/coronavirus may not always immediately match Allen County’s case numbers.

READ MORE: Indiana Department of Health reports 79 total positive COVID-19 cases

Friday morning, the Indiana Department of Health released its latest batch of data and showed at least 79 people had been infected with the virus.

At least 554 people have been tested, and Indiana's death toll remained at 2.

CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE CURRENT INDIANA COVID-19 MAP

Anyone with a fever of 100 degrees F AND a cough should first call their healthcare provider to discuss their symptoms and determine the next course of action.

The following local healthcare providers have set up specific screening for COVID-19:

Fort Wayne Medical Education patients should call 260-423-2675

IU Health patients should download the telemedicine application IU Health Virtual Visit and follow directions OR call 260-234-5400

Lutheran Health patients should call 260-435-5050

Parkview patients should call 1-877-PPG-TODAY or their specific provider; Parkview has also set up a self-screening website at Parkview.com/covid19screening

Neighborhood Health Clinic patients should call 260-458-2570

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