On March 13, 2020, the COVID-19 global pandemic was declared a national emergency in the United States. Since then, life as we knew it has dramatically changed. Health care workers everywhere, including OSF HealthCare Mission Partners (employees), bravely served with the greatest care and love as hospitals filled and hundreds of thousands of lives were lost across the U.S.
The light at the end of the tunnel, however, continues to brighten. OSF HealthCare St. Mary Medical Center is proud to report its COVID-19 inpatient census has reached zero. The milestone came late yesterday afternoon. At the height of pandemic in the Western region of OSF, the number of COVID-19 patients reached 27. That surge hit on October 23, 2020.
While this number can and will change as the pandemic continues, the milestone is a testament to the tremendous strides made by the medical community, especially the development of safe and effective COVID-19 vaccines.
“Vaccinations against COVID-19 are our best shot to help end the pandemic,” said Lisa DeKezel, president OSF St. Mary Medical Center in Galesburg, Illinois. “As more people in our community receive the vaccine, we see the direct impact of that here. While the numbers will certainly continue to fluctuate in the weeks and months ahead, this benchmark of zero COVID-19 inpatients is proof the vaccine is helping to keep people out of the hospital.”
Currently, COVID-19 vaccines are readily available and anyone 12 and older is eligible to receive one. Vaccinations can be self-scheduled at osfhealthcare.org/vaccine.
For the latest information about the COVID-19 vaccine, visit the OSF HealthCare website.
***Report Courtesy of OSF HealthCare St. Mary Medical Center***
