St. Margaret’s Health says that they have seen a major spike in the rate of positive cases requiring hospitalization as of late, especially those who are younger and mostly unvaccinated. In LaSalle County, only 8% of ICU beds are currently available as of the most recent data.
Dr. Bob Morrow with SMH says the fact still holds true, that if you are vaccinated, you are far less likely to need admission to the hospital. He says St. Margaret’s has seen too many patients die unnecessarily because of refusal to vaccinate.
Morrow says that the hospital has patients with strokes and heart attacks waiting for days with no tertiary care bed available in the region. The healthcare center is asking resident in the Illinois Valley to get vaccinated, mask up, get tested, and stay home if you test positive.
LaSalle County has a vaccination rate of 54% and Bureau County has a vaccination rate of 52%.
Morrow says the staff is mentally and physically exhausted, and quite frankly, hanging on by a thread at times. SMH Medical Staff President Eric Santos says if the public could only see a glimpse of the dedication, strain, depression, helplessness of our staff and employees; and look of desperation, worry and helplessness of the patients and families right now.