By Kathi O'Shea May 12, 2021 9:58 am
KGMI Dave Walker
BELLINGHAM, Wash. — Whatcom County’s COVID-19 infection and hospitalization rates remain above the state’s metrics for remaining in Phase 3 of the re-opening plan.
Health Department Director Erika Lautenbach told a Tuesday news conference that younger people are being hospitalized.
She said the median age in our region of those hospitalized for COVID-19 went from 67 years old in January to 52, a drop of 15 years.
PeaceHealth St. Joseph Chief Medical Officer Dr. Sudhakar Karlapudi says that all COVID patients they’ve admitted so far have not been vaccinated.
He said the vaccine essentially prevents people from getting the severe form of the disease, and he thinks that has been manifested in Whatcom County based on their experience with the fourth wave and the vaccination status of patients admitted with COVID.