KLAMATH FALLS, Ore. — Klamath County Public Health on Tuesday reported the area's fifth death attributed to coronavirus, as cases in the county continue to rise.
The agency said that a 68-year-old woman died with the virus at Sky Lakes Medical Center, though the precise date was not reported in a preliminary statement. The woman had underlying conditions, and had tested positive for COVID-19.
Klamath County also reported 38 new cases on Monday. Cases have been surging in the county of late, with 112 new cases counted over Friday and Saturday alone.
While hospital and public health officials around the state have been warning of COVID-19's threat to hospital capacity, the region that includes Klamath and Lake counties typifies that sense of alarm. As of Monday, hospital Region 7 had more than 90 percent of ICU beds occupied, and just over 80 percent of normal beds. There were just four ICU beds available in the region.
Sky Lakes announced last week that it was forced to open up a second coronavirus isolation unit after the first unit hit capacity.
