KLAMATH FALLS, Ore. – For the first time ever, Sky Lakes Medical Center’s isolation unit for COVID-19 patients reached capacity.
On Tuesday, November 24, Sky Lakes President and CEO Paul Stewart said, “This morning, Sky Lakes had more COVID-19 patients than ever since the pandemic began. And with the large number of new positive test results recently reported, we can expect more COVID-19 patients in the very near future.”
Because of the increase in coronavirus-related hospitalizations, Sky Lakes said a second isolation unit has been opened on the Klamath Falls hospital’s second floor. The rest of the inpatient care area remains open for non-COVID patients.
“Evidence suggests this surge ties back to at Halloween parties where people were likely not wearing face masks and certainly not observing distancing guidelines,” Stewart said. “With Thanksgiving just around the corner, it’s especially important to heed the experts’ advice about masks and gatherings.”
Stewart said the hospital’s ability to care for non-COVID patients relies on having staff and care providers available. If they’re required to care for an increasing number of COVID patients, then the hospital will have less of an ability to care for regular patients.
Klamath County Public Health said over the past 24 hours, there were 60 new cases of COVID-19 reported in the county, bringing the total to 745.
So far, four people died from COVID-19 in Klamath County, according to public health officials.
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