Columbus Regional Hospital is seeing an increase in patients hospitalized with COVID-19 over the past several weeks as state health officials reported a record number of new coronavirus cases in Indiana for the second day in a row.
The average number of people hospitalized with COVID-19 at CRH has doubled over the past two weeks, reaching a peak of eight hospitalized patients on Tuesday — the highest single-day total since June 8, according to figures provided by the hospital.
There were five patients hospitalized with coronavirus infections on Friday. By comparison, there no more than three patients hospitalized during a 23-day stretch from mid-June to early-July. The upward trend, however, is still lower than the peak of 20 patients hospitalized in late April.
Local officials are concerned about the uptick in hospitalizations, acknowledging they “are not trending in the direction we want.”
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“There is a definite concern,” said Dr. Brian Niedbalski, Bartholomew County health officer. “It is still uncertain if this is a blip on the radar or a sign of a worsening long-term trend. I believe this is why (the Bartholomew Consolidated School Corp.) is still taking a wait-and-see approach on the start date of school. Many things can happen between now and the first week of August. Adjustments may still be necessary.”
Columbus Mayor Jim Lienhoop said he is also concerned about the numbers and said the uptick in cases could be linked to gatherings during the Fourth of July weekend, as it can take a couple weeks after being infected with the coronavirus for symptoms to progress to the point where people decide to seek medical attention.
“There was a quite a bit of activity (on July 4) as there normally is for that holiday,” Lienhoop said. “…I think we are seeing the results of that activity back around the Fourth of July, and as we think forward to the resumption of school and just a desire that people have to get out and enjoy being outside again, I think we’ll see similar kind of results if we cannot effectively protect ourselves and our neighbors by wearing masks.”
The upward trend in local hospitalizations came at the same time that most states are dealing with a troubling surge in coronavirus cases and hospitalizations that has already led many governors to enact face mask requirements and pause lifting more business restrictions.
On Friday, the Indiana State Department of Health reported a record 1,011 new cases of the virus in the state within the past 24 hours. The previous record, 954, was set the day before.
Bartholomew County reported 13 new cases of COVID-19 on Friday, raising the county-wide total to 664.
A total of 2,687 Hoosiers, including 45 Bartholomew County residents, have died from the virus.
Hospitalizations statewide remained relatively steady at 850 as of Thursday, down from 869 on Wednesday, but still up from 595 on June 26.
At least 144,552 people in the United States had died from the virus as of Friday — roughly 2.5 times the number of U.S. soldiers who died in battle during the Vietnam War, according to Johns Hopkins University.
On Friday, Indiana Gov. Eric Holcomb signed an executive order mandating Hoosiers wear masks in public effective Monday due to the increasing numbers of coronavirus infections and hospitalizations across the state.
The mandate would apply to anyone 8 years or older in indoor public spaces, commercial entities and on public transportation, as well as when outdoors and without the ability to maintain 6 feet of physical distance with others.
Masks also would be required in schools for students in grades 3 and up, and for all faculty, staff, volunteers and anyone else on school property. Exceptions will be made for medical purposes, strenuous activity and eating and drinking, state officials said.
Republican Attorney General Curtis Hill had issued an advisory opinion questioning Holcomb’s authority to issue the mask mandate without the consent of the Legislature. Hill said the governor should call the Legislature back into session.
“Face coverings can and will help us blunt this increase,” Holcomb said during a press conference Wednesday. “It has in other places, around the country and around the world, and this is time-sensitive now.”
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- Bartholomew County: 664 positive cases (up 13) with 45 deaths (no change).
- Jackson County: 519 positive cases (up five) with three deaths (no change).
- Jennings County: 191 positive cases (up three) with 12 deaths (no change).
- Decatur County: 271 positive cases (up two) with 32 deaths (no change).
- Shelby County: 483 positive cases (up one) with 25 deaths (no change).
- Johnson County: 1,516 positive cases (up 25) with 118 deaths (no change).
- Brown County: 61 positive cases (up one) with one death ( no change).
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Call 888-634-1116 or visit lhi.care/covidtesting to register and schedule a COVID-19 test.
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Anyone with concerns about COVID-19 is urged to call the health system’s Triage Resource Call Center, a phone resource line launched by CRH to handle calls from residents with questions and concerns about exposure or symptoms associated with COVID-19. The phone line is open daily from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. and is staffed by registered nurses who will offer screening questions and potentially recommend a course of action for patients.
The phone resource line can be contacted at 812-379-4449.
Visit crh.org/news/2020/03/16/coronavirus-update-what-you-need-to-know for more information.
Visit the Community COVID-19 Task Force’s website at covid19communitytaskforce.org.
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For more information about COVID-19, including a list of frequently asked questions, visit in.gov/coronavirus.
Visit the Indiana State Department of Health in.gov/isdh/.
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