Southern Illinois is again showing signs of COVID strain, as the number of available ICU beds in local hospitals has dropped to less than 10.
State statistics show a spike in new coronavirus cases across Illinois - in some cases at dramatically higher rates than the last several weeks.
Hospitalizations continue to climb, putting doctors, nurses, and other hospital staff under increased pressure to care for more patients - many of whom are very sick and need specialized care.
Southern Illinois Healthcare's inpatient COVID cases nearly doubled in one week - from 24 last week to 47 this week. SSM hospitals in Mt. Vernon and Centralia jumped from 21 to 38 patients. Both organizations reported half as many patients a month ago.
Data still seems to show a big disparity between the unvaccinated and vaccinated - far more people who are unvaccinated are getting sick, and needing hospitalization.
Meanwhile health leaders are urging everyone who's already been fully vaccinated to get a booster shot - as statistics show it helps boost any waning immunity.
