COLUMBUS, Ind. — The number of people hospitalized with COVID-19 at Columbus Regional Hospital has increased over the past week, remaining near record highs seen during the pandemic as health officials brace for a potential post-holiday surge.
On Monday, 54 people were hospitalized with COVID-19 at CRH, an increase of 14 since Dec. 20 and just shy of the record high of 59 on Dec. 2, the hospital said.
Hospital occupancy stood at 80% on Tuesday morning, CRH officials said.
CRH’s capacity depends on the number of available beds and having doctors and nurses available to staff them.
Currently, 20 CRH staff are quarantining due to testing positive for COVID-19 or having symptoms consistent with the coronavirus, down from 36 earlier this month, the hospital said.
A total of 46 people were hospitalized at CRH with coronavirus infections as of Tuesday morning, though hospital officials expected that number to increase over the course the day. Three of the patients were listed in critical condition.
The increase in local hospitalizations came as state health officials expressing concern that Indiana could see “a surge on top of a surge” as COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations in much of the state.
For more on this story, see Wednesday’s Republic.
