BELLINGHAM, Wash. – The chief medical officer of Bellingham’s hospital is among those sounding the alarm over the rising number of people who are seriously ill with COVID-19.
PeaceHealth St. Joseph Medical Center is currently caring for almost 40 COVID patients, more than at any time during the pandemic.
Dr. Sudakar Karlapudi says that’s putting huge strain on the 235 bed hospital.
“That’s about 17, 18 percent of our hospital,” says Karlapudi. “To have 18 percent of beds occupied by patients with one disease really limits our ability to care for the rest of the community with the other medical problems they have.”
He’s among the many health professionals urging everyone who is able to get vaccinated.
He says that the few vaccinated patients who are infected with the coronavirus suffer much more mild symptoms than those who aren’t vaccinated.
You can listen to the full interview with Dr. Karlapudi here.