The Indiana State Department of Health is reporting 5,541 new cases of COVID-19 in the state as of Tuesday afternoon’s update.

The number of new cases is down from weekend heights but still substantially higher than any day before early November. That is a 7-day positivity rate of 12 percent with 84 more deaths across the state.

According to state figures, just under 46 percent of the ICU hospital beds in south central Indiana’s District 8 are available, with almost 29 percent of the beds being used for COVID-19 patients and 25.5 percent being used for other patients. According to The Republic newspaper, Columbus Regional Hospital is at about 85 percent of its capacity and Schneck Medical Center in Seymour has run out of ICU beds.

Bartholomew County reported 45 new cases on Tuesday and 1 new death from COVID-19, which happened on Sunday.

Bartholomew, Brown, Johnson, Shelby, Jennings and Jackson counties are all showing high spread of the virus according to the state. Decatur County remains in the severe spread category. Local officials expect that Bartholomew County will also be moved into the red, or severe category, when the state next updates is color-coded map.

The Indiana Governor’s office yesterday said the governor and his wife are quarantining after a few members of their security detail tested positive for the coronavirus. Governor Eric Holcomb and First Lady Janet Holcomb are considered close contacts and will be tested for the virus this week. Typically, a coronavirus quarantine lasts two weeks. The governor is expected to join today’s COVID briefing by phone.

The Roby and America Anderson Community Center on the east side of Columbus is still planning on its annual Thanksgiving dinner on Saturday but it will be a drive-through event this year.

There will be no dining in at the center. The Thanksgiving event will be from noon to 2 p.m. on Saturday afternoon at the center on McClure Road. Meals are free. Meals will be delivered to those who are shut-ins.

Two people were arrested after a multi-county police chase starting Saturday afternoon in Columbus.

Officers noticed a car, that had been reported stolen, in an alley near South Hinman Street at about 2:35 p.m. Saturday afternoon. But when police tried to stop the vehicle, the driver sped away, eventually crossing into Decatur County on State Road 7.

A passenger jumped out and the driver soon lost control and crashed into a street sign near Decatur County Roads 800W and 1200S. The driver, identified as 24-year-old Joseph D. Vincent of Columbus, got out of the vehicle and laid on the ground. Marijuana was recovered near Vincent and drug paraphernalia was found in the vehicle.

The passenger, 24-year-old Macy D. Bramble of Columbus was found walking on a nearby road, where she was discovered to be carrying an allegedly stolen laptop.

Vincent is facing charges of Auto Theft, Resisting Law Enforcement with a Vehicle, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, and Possession of Marijuana with a Prior Conviction. Bramble is being accused of Possession of Stolen Property.

Bartholomew County deputies arrested a disturbed man Sunday who claimed to be the Messiah.

The incident started at about 10:07 a.m. Sunday morning with a home alarm in the 8800 block of North County Road 600E. The homeowner arrived to find a truck in the driveway and a man in the residence. The man allegedly claimed to be Jesus, and told the homeowner that the home now belonged to him.

When deputies arrived, the man identifying himself as Jesus tried to drive away. During a struggle, the deputy used his Taser to stun the man and grab the keys. The man then tried to wrestle the deputy’s gun away from him. The deputy retained his weapon, moved away and used the Taser again to subdue the man.

The suspect was identified as 40-year-old Tony Fultz who is facing charges of residential entry, resisting law enforcement and disarming a law enforcement officer.

Bartholomew County officials are going to explore ways to bring broadband internet to every corner of the county.

The Bartholomew County Commissioners yesterday created a new Bartholomew County Broadband Initiative that will explore ways to find grant money, to use CARES Act funding and to bring private investment to the problem of rural areas without stable, fast internet speed in the county.

Commissioners stressed that their long-time goal for rural broadband has been for the private sector to step up and provide service. But for many remote areas in the county, that has not happened. The initiative will not lead to the county becoming an internet provider itself, commissioners said.

Auditor Pia O’Connor pointed out that the most recent county budget has allocated $450 thousand dollars toward improving broadband access in the county.

The board overseeing the initiative will be led by incoming County Commissioner Tony London. London pointed out that for many residents, there is only one provider of internet service and for some, there are no viable options for broadband internet. The group could hold its first meetings as early as this week and will have a March 15th deadline for their final recommendations.

Long-time local attorney David Nowak will be the next magistrate for Bartholomew Superior Court 2 according to judge-elect Jon Rohde.

Rohde announced yesterday that appointing the court’s magistrate would be one of his first duties when he takes office in January and after talking with people involved in the local judicial system, he concluded that Nowak would be the perfect person to fill the position.

Nowak has previously served as a deputy in the Indiana attorney general’s office and in private practice in Bartholomew County, where he has spent 26 years as a public defender. He graduated from Ball State University with a degree in political science, and from the Thomas M. Cooley Law School in Lansing, Michigan.

The Superior Court 2 magistrate handles many of the county’s traffic cases, ordinance violations, and small claims court cases.

The Bartholomew County Assessor’s Office has shut down after a worker there came down with COVID-19 over the weekend.

Bartholomew County Commissioners made the announcement yesterday that the physical office will be closed while staff members quarantine, following the positive case. Other workers in the office are being tested for the virus. Workers will still be working remotely, and assisting customers as possible, according to the commissioners.

County offices have been limited to appointment only. as of last week, due to the increasing cases of COVID-19 cases.

Bartholomew County is setting new records for coronavirus cases, according to the Bartholomew County and Columbus COVID-19 Community Task Force.

The county added 68 new positive test cases in the most recent numbers, which is down slightly from weekend highs, but the per capita rate of 92.8 per 100,000 residents and a 23 percent positive test rate are new highs. There are also 43 people hospitalized in Bartholomew County due to COVID-19, also a new high.

The Indiana State Department of Health is reporting 5,218 new cases of COVID-19 in the state as of Monday afternoon’s update. That is a positivity rate of 11.7 percent with 26 more deaths across the state. The number of new cases is down from this weekend, when those topped 8 thousand instances, but still substantially higher than any day before early November.

According to state figures, just over 48 percent of the ICU hospital beds in south central Indiana’s District 8 are available, with 23 percent of the occupied beds being used for COVID-19 patients and almost 29 percent being used for other patients.

Bartholomew, Brown, Johnson, Shelby, Jennings and Jackson counties are all showing high spread of the virus according to the state. Decatur County remains in the severe spread category.