Mike Wolanin | The Republic An exterior view of Columbus Regional Hospital in Columbus, Ind., pictured, Tuesday, March 31, 2020.
Mike Wolanin | The Republic An exterior view of Columbus Regional Hospital in Columbus, Ind., pictured, Tuesday, March 31, 2020.
COLUMBUS, Ind. — Bartholomew County is on the verge of crossing the grim milestone of 200 lives lost to the coronavirus as a new surge in cases continues to push hospitalizations close to their highest levels of the pandemic.
State health officials this week reported that three additional Bartholomew County residents had died of COVID-19 since the beginning of December, raising the county’s death toll to 195 as local officials brace for what they fear could be another dark winter.
On Friday morning, there were 48 people hospitalized with COVID-19 — including one child and three others younger than 50 — at Columbus Regional Hospital, just 11 shy of the record 59 set on Dec. 2, 2020, and accounted for roughly 1 in 4 hospitalizations at CRH on Friday morning. Hospitalizations have been hovering between 48 and 52 since Dec. 4.
“Unfortunately, (we’re) still very, very busy,” said CRH spokeswoman Kelsey DeClue. “…We’re bursting at the seams here, but we’re managing.”
For the complete story, see Saturday’s Republic.
