KLAMATH FALLS, Ore. This week, Klamath County has the highest COVID-19 test positivity rate in the state. Now, its largest hospital is struggling to adapt to the demand.
Monday, Sky Lakes Medical Center said it intended to open a second COVID-19 isolation unit, but couldn’t, due to staffing issues. Tuesday, the center had 19 patients in its COVID-19 unit. That’s near the record number of patients it had back in December.
Covid-19 is hitting Klamath County hard. It’s seen a drastic increase in COVID-19 cases in the last few weeks.
Tom Hottman, Spokesperson for Sky Lakes Medical Center says it was averaging 8-12 people per week, then 12-15, but recently its hit 19. During the worst of the pandemic in December, its high was 21.
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We ll update this story throughout the day with the latest news about coronavirus and its effects in Oregon on Wednesday, May 12.
Oregon reports 616 new cases, nine new deaths
Oregon has reported 616 new cases of COVID-19, and nine new deaths.
That brings the state’s cumulative case count to 193,014, and the death toll to 2,558, according to the Oregon Health Authority.
Marion County reported 53 new cases. Polk County reported 11 new cases.
Other counties’ new cases were: Baker (2), Benton (14), Clackamas (80), Clatsop (1), Columbia (7), Coos (9), Crook (11), Deschutes (63), Douglas (15), Gilliam (1), Grant (2), Hood River (2), Jackson (42), Jefferson (13), Josephine (6), Klamath (15), Lake (2), Lane (49), Lincoln (2), Linn (21), Malheur (6), Multnomah (105), Tillamook (2), Umatilla (20), Union (1), Washington (49), Wheeler (2) and Yamhill (10).
KLAMATH FALLS, Ore Sky Lakes Medical Center is expanding its hospital due to a rise in coronavirus-related hospitalizations.
On Monday, the Hospital shared on Facebook that there are 18 patients in the Covid-19 unit – nearing its record last December.
“We had to cancel several elective procedures today to accommodate for staffing demands.” Sky Lakes shared on their post.
Sky Lakes noted the drastic increase in covid-19 cases within the last few weeks. Officials say hospitalizations are likely to increase as cases continue to climb.
This is a developing story and more information will be released as details emerge.
Anthony Carter is a reporter for NBC5 News. He grew up in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and graduated from Elizabethtown College in 2019. Anthony started his career as a print journalist, covering New York sports and the NBA Draft. He then started his own sports podcast and website covering the Arena Football League. Anthony moved to the Rogue Valley in 2019 as a
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May 7, 2021
There are five new COVID-19 related deaths in Oregon, raising the state’s death toll to 2,514.
Oregon Health Authority reported 763 new confirmed and presumptive cases of COVID-19, bringing the state total to 189,162.
The number of hospitalized patients with COVID-19 across Oregon is 328, which is two fewer than Wednesday. There are 90 COVID-19 patients in intensive care unit (ICU) beds, which is seven more than Wednesday.
The total number of COVID-19 positive patient bed-days in the most recent seven days is 2,364, which is an 8.7% increase from the previous seven days. The peak daily number of beds occupied by COVID-19 positive patients in the most recent seven days is 351.