Gundersen Health System is reopening its COVID-19 unit
At least 16 people were hospitalized in La Crosse, a doctor says
LA CROSSE, Wis. (WKBT)- Gundersen Health System is reopening its COVID-19 unit.
COVID-19 hospitalizations are up, rising significantly over the past week, says Dr. Joshua Whitson. At least 16 people were hospitalized in La Crosse on Monday, he said. That’s up from two to five the week before.
The La Crosse-based system is reopening its COVID-19 unit in La Crosse to handle the increased caseload. Current hospitalization are below their peak in 2020, but Whitson says the increase is causing concern.
“A younger, healthier population, often otherwise healthy people who are not vaccinated, who are coming in with very, very severe disease requiring oxygen support; sometimes being put on the ventilators, the breathing machines,” Whitson said. “That’s really the at-risk population right now.”
The Delta variant can spread among vaccinated people, but cases are milder and hospital stays are shorter, said Whitson, who said vaccination is still the most useful tool to battle this pandemic.
COPYRIGHT 2021 BY NEWS 8 NOW/NEWS 8000. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. THIS MATERIAL MAY NOT BE PUBLISHED, BROADCAST, REWRITTEN OR REDISTRIBUTED.
