Increase in COVID Cases Here Not Leading to More Hospitalizations

St. Mark’s Medical Center reported an increase in positive COVID test results last week, but the positive tests have not led to an increase in hospitalizations so far.

“We have not seen a new wave of inpatient admissions due to COVID,” St. Mark’s CEO Mark Kimball told the Record last Friday. “What we are seeing – it started just before Christmas around Dec. 20 – is a big uptick of positive results. But fortunately those people have not had to be hospitalized.”

Kimball said an increasing number of hospital staff have tested positive for the virus as well. So far, he it hasn’t led to staffing shortages. Kimball said recent changes regarding isolation protocols from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) have helped the hospital avoid staffing shortages. Those changes lowered the isolation period from 10 days to five days following a positive test.

“At this point, we do have staff out but we’re able to cover with other staff and maintain a safe work environment,” Kimball said.