Get vaccinated for our community's health, economic welfare

Kootenai Health is near capacity, and is cancelling elective surgeries. “This past winter, it took a total of 58 days for the surge to climb from 28 patients to 87. This time it has taken less than half as long — only 21 days — and the numbers continue to escalate,” says a press release.

Kootenai Health also says the COVID-19 delta variant is replicating and spreading much faster than the original COVID-19 alpha variant and causing more severe illness in younger patients with few or no risk factors for complications. Patients age 18-60 represent about 50% of those currently hospitalized for COVID-19 at Kootenai Health, compared to only 20% during the winter surge.

There were 377 patients hospitalized statewide with COVID-19, including 120 in intensive care, as of Monday. Last winter, the most COVID-19 patients in Idaho ICUs was 122. The state surpassed that record with 127 hospitalized on Sunday.

Please get vaccinated, for me and our children. Our community's health, and your family's economic, entertainment, and educational welfare depends on it.


NANCY GERTH

Sagle