The number of patients hospitalized with COVID-19 at Columbus Regional Hospital has remained relatively steady over the past several days, but is still hovering around its highest level since late May.
There were 15 patients hospitalized at CRH Friday with COVID-19, and one additional patient hospitalized with symptoms consistent with COVID-19, but still awaiting test results, the hospital said. Last Friday, there were 10 patients hospitalized with the virus, which was an increase from two patients on July 31.
Three of the patients hospitalized on Friday are in critical condition, hospital officials said.
Earlier this week, Bartholomew County health officials expressed concern about the spread of COVID-19 in the community as the number of cases and hospitalizations continue to increase.
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This past weekend, hospitalizations at CRH reached 17— the highest since May 18 and just shy of the overall peak hospital census of 20 in late April.
Bartholomew County Health Officer Dr. Brian Niedbalski said he and other local officials are monitoring the situation, but acknowledged earlier this week that the increase in hospitalizations is a “cause for concern.”
“As we are seeing more activity of COVID-19 in our county, I want to stress the importance of wearing masks when in public places, practicing social distancing and avoiding large crowds,” Niedbalski said.
COVID-19 hospitalizations have risen across Indiana in recent weeks, hovering between 900 and just over 1,000 since Aug. 2 after reaching a low of 595 on June 26, according to the Indiana State Department of Health. There were 910 people hospitalized with suspected or confirmed cases of COVID-19 across the state as of Thursday.
The seven-day positive test rate among Bartholomew County residents as of Aug. 7 was 5.1%, according to ISDH. That same metric is higher in all but one neighboring county, including Jennings, Decator and Shelby counties, which had positivity rates of about 11% over the same time period.
The seven-day positive test rate among Brown County residents was 3.1% as of Aug. 7.
State health officials delay releasing the positive test rate for six days to allow time for test results to come back, according to ISDH’s website.
