Bellingham hospital sets COVID record high and asks Whatcom residents to get booster shots

Amid a 50% surge in COVID-related hospitalizations over the holiday weekend to pandemic record levels, St. Joseph hospital in Bellingham made an urgent request for Whatcom County residents to “take the precautions that we know will help keep hospitalizations down.” The hospital reported that it was treating 45 patients for COVID-related symptoms on Monday, Jan. 3, which was up from 30 reported on Thursday, Dec. 30. Over the weekend, the hospital saw 30 COVID-related hospitalizations Friday, 34 Saturday and 39 on Sunday.