Oregon continues to see high rates of COVID-19 patients being hospitalized. Our front line health care workers, and all of those who keep the hospitals running, like janitors, security staff, cafeteria personnel and those who greet the public, put themselves in the path of the rapidly spreading Delta variant every day. 

They are moms and dads. They are someone’s children. They are our neighbors. They are selfless, courageous, dedicated and surely exhausted. 

Across the state, there are 1,131 patients hospitalized with COVID-19. Three hundred and eight of those patients are in intensive care unit (ICU) beds. The pandemic has lasted a long time, and many have probably grown numb to reading statistics, but these numbers represent human beings. These numbers represent 1,131 people who may have loved ones waiting for them to come home. Sadly, more hospital beds are needed with every passing day.

Oregon has had eight consecutive weeks of increasing hospitalization rates. So, what can we do? We can offer our deepest gratitude to our mighty health care workers and those who support them in keeping the hospitals clean, safe and running as smoothly as possible during these most difficult circumstances. 

We can also do more by getting ourselves and our families vaccinated and helping others who may be vaccine hesitant to understand the urgent need to protect themselves, their loved ones and their communities. Doing our best to avoid needing a scarce hospital bed is the best way to thank frontline workers. Please offer your appreciation for the heroic efforts of health care workers by getting vaccinated, wearing masks, physically distancing and being kind to one another.

Find more information and to find a vaccine site near you visit our Find a COVID-19 Vaccine in Oregon web page. 

This article first appeared in the Sept. 2, 2021 issue of Oregon Coronavirus Update.