By The Associated Press

INDIANAPOLIS — An Indianapolis man and woman who were married for more than three decades died one day apart from COVID-19.

Ernest “Ronald” and Ann Wilkins, ages 66 and 59, were married for 33 years. Friends and family described their deep connection and said they had been planning to get the COVID-19 vaccine as soon as possible, according to WRTV-TV.

Both contracted COVID-19 in December, were hospitalized and put on ventilators. Ronald died Jan. 8 and Ann, a former Indianapolis school teacher, died the following day.

“She was deeply committed to her profession and to her fellow educators,” said Indianapolis Public Schools Superintendent Alessia Johnson. “I think what she did well was sort of holding everybody to account because, at the end of the day, her goal was to make sure kids were getting served well.”

Indiana logged 3,228 more confirmed COVID-19 cases and 24 additional deaths on Sunday, according to the Indiana Department of Health. Overall, the state has reported more than 590,000 infections and nearly 9,000 deaths.