For a brief moment on Wednesday this week, our Bend hospital had zero inpatients with COVID-19. It’s the first time we have hit that particular milestone since June 3 of last year.
“Although as of this morning our inpatient COVID-19 number was back up to one, it’s still a moment worth celebrating,” wrote CEO Joe Sluka. “We have come a very long way in our COVID-19 fight. At times it has felt like a never-ending battle. And while it isn’t over, I’m so very proud of our St. Charles team and our entire Central Oregon community for how we have come together to face this global pandemic.”
“We have washed, we have masked and we have distanced – and will continue to do so – and these actions have undoubtedly saved lives,” Sluka added. “As our county risk levels decline and our worlds are opening back up, I have so much hope because of the most important tool in our COVID-19 fight: vaccinations.”
Sluka says while it is still too soon to draw any definitive conclusions, “it appears our vaccine strategy is working.”
The average age of patients hospitalized at St. Charles Bend in March has declined compared with those hospitalized in January. This is a trend we hope to see continue as vaccinations become available to all Oregonians by May 1.
You can pre-register for your COVID-19 vaccine at centraloregoncovidvaccine.com – When you are eligible, a unique link will be sent to book your vaccine appointment. Once you have pre-registered yourself,
“I am confident that just as we have pulled together to fight COVID-19, we will pull together as a community to ensure every eligible Central Oregonian who wants a vaccine is able to get one in the next few months,” Sluka concluded.
