Marion and Washington Counties have jumped up to the medium level for COVID-19 hospitalizations.
The latest weekly report from the Centers for Disease Control Marion County has had 10 COVID-19 hospitalizations.
The Marion County Health Department says three congregate care facilities are now on outbreak status. In addition to the one facility in Centralia that has been on outbreak the past few weeks, two in Salem have now joined them.
The Centralia facility has 22 employees and three residents currently with COVID-19. One Salem facility has seven residents and one employee COVID-19 positive. The other Salem facility has two residents testing positive.
Salem Township Hospital Interim CEO Lisa Ambuehl reports the hospital has seen a few admissions for COVID-19-related treatment. She reports some hospital employees, including those in the emergency room, are now wearing masks to try and avoid further spread of the virus.
At present, St. Mary’s Hospital in Centralia is reporting one COVID-19 inpatient and Good Samaritan Hospital in Mt. Vernon four cases. Hospital spokesperson Erin Rinderer says there are no masking guidelines at this time, but they ask anyone coming in who is sick to be courteous of others and put a mask on to help reduce the spread. She reports RSV has been a greater problem at the two hospitals right now.
Washington County is also reported at the medium level of hospitalizations, with ten cases.
Clinton, Jefferson, Wayne, Clay and Fayette Counties are at the low level for COVID-19 transmission. Jefferson and Wayne have five COVID-19 related hospitalizations and Clay and Fayette County four apiece.
