COLUMBUS, Ind. — The latest surge in COVID-19 infections in Columbus and the surrounding area has driven the monthly death toll from the virus to its highest level in a year.
At least 54 people in the area — including 16 in Bartholomew County — died from the virus during the first 27 days of January, the highest monthly total since January 2021, when 68 deaths were recorded, according to the latest figures from the Indiana Department of Health.
The area, which includes Bartholomew, Brown, Decatur, Jackson, Jennings and Shelby counties, has recorded a total of 746 deaths from COVID-19 since spring 2020.
So far, January 2022 has been the fourth deadliest month of the pandemic in Bartholomew County, with the county recording one death, on average, every 40 hours.
This past month also was the second deadliest on record in Jennings County, with 14 of the county’s overall total of 87 confirmed coronavirus deaths occurring since New Year’s Day.
And this month’s death toll could continue to rise, as it often takes a few days for state health officials to verify and update COVID-19 deaths on its public dashboard.
For more on this story, see Tuesday’s Republic.
