CRH sees record high for COVID-19

A view of the Columbus Regional Health sign by the driveway leading to Columbus Regional Hospital in Columbus, Ind., pictured, Tuesday, March 31, 2020. Mike Wolanin | The Republic Mike Wolanin

A surge in coronavirus cases in Bartholomew County and the surrounding area has led to a record number of hospitalizations for COVID-19 at Columbus Regional Hospital

There were 27 people hospitalized with COVID-19 at CRH on Monday — the highest seen during the pandemic and surpassing the previous peak of 22, the hospital said.

On Tuesday morning, there were 23 patients hospitalized with COVID-19, marking the fifth consecutive day with at least 20 patients hospitalized at CRH with coronavirus infections.

One patient was in critical condition on Tuesday morning, with the remaining 22 in stable condition, the hospital said.

Twelve of the patients were Bartholomew County residents, six were Jennings County residents, two were Decatur County residents and the remaining three patients were residents of Brown, Jackson or Madison counties.

The surge in patients in Columbus comes as the spread of COVID-19 and hospitalizations soar across much of the state.

A total of 2,336 people in Indiana were hospitalized with confirmed or suspected COVID-19 infections on Monday — the eighth straight day of record-setting coronavirus hospitalizations and up from 759 on Sept. 21, according to the Indiana State Department of Health.

The increase in hospitalizations at CRH has prompted officials to convert single rooms into double occupancy in its COVID ward, but the hospital has not yet needed to open additional treatment areas in the hospital, said CRH spokeswoman Kelsey DeClue.

There have been 2,468 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in CRH’s 10-county service area so far this month, including 375 in Bartholomew County, 231 in Jackson County and 117 in Jennings County, according to state figures.

By comparison, there 1,007 cases reported in the 10-county region during the entire month of September.

A record 73 cases in Bartholomew County were reported to state health officials on Tuesday, and one more death, bringing the total to 61.

There were 20 hospitalizations at Schneck Medical Center in Seymour on Tuesday.

CRH’s service area includes Bartholomew, Brown, Decatur, Jackson, Jefferson, Jennings, Johnson, Ripley, Scott and Shelby counties. The local hospital also sees patients from several other counties.