On Thursday, Butler Health System reported that the hospital had 23 COVID-19-positive inpatients with three in the intensive care unit with severe symptoms. On Jan. 14, one month prior, the system reported that the hospital had 67 COVID-19-positive inpatients, and seven were in the ICU with severe symptoms.

Dr. David Rottinghaus, Butler Health System's chief medical officer and emergency medical physician, said the months-long spike in COVID-19 cases seen from October through January was the result of the emergence of more-contagious variants, an increase in group gatherings and people simultaneously taking fewer mitigation measures.

Rottinghaus said that although case counts were up throughout the spike, hospitalizations were lower than they were at the start of the pandemic. To him, this indicates that the coronavirus could be approaching endemic status.

“The prevailing belief is it's going to be an endemic; there will always be a degree of it circulating in the population,” Rottinghaus said. “Unlike polio or smallpox, its mutation ability renders it unlikely and impossible to eradicate with vaccination. But hopefully, herd immunity through vaccination and natural infection help make it like another typical cold.”

A portion of this story is shared with you as a digital media exclusive. To read the full story and support our local, independent newsroom, please subscribe at butlereagle.com.