An unfortunate milestone has been reached within Hospital Sisters Health System (HSHS) across Wisconsin and Illinois; A record 303 patients are currently hospitalized and being treated for COVID-19 in HSHS hospitals as compared with the previous high of 293 patients in November 2020, before a vaccine was available. These patients range from very young to elderly and include pregnant women.

In addition to record-setting hospitalizations, HSHS reports seven COVID-19 deaths in the last 24 hours. Six of those seven patients were unvaccinated. There are also currently nine COVID-19-positive pediatric patients in HSHS hospitals.

As of Friday, January 7th,  across HSHS Wisconsin and HSHS Illinois hospitals 303 patients are hospitalized and 230 are unvaccinated (76%). There are 64 patients in the ICU, 51 are unvaccinated (80%) and currently there are 32 patients on ventilators, 27 of whom are unvaccinated.

HSHS encourages you to find local vaccine and testing locations in your community; do not come to an HSHS emergency room or an urgent care facility for a COVID-19 vaccine or test. Resources to provide these services to community members are unavailable unless a person is admitted to the hospital and meets the requirements for vaccination.

HSHS hospitals are pleading with community members to get vaccinated; get boosted; stay home if you’re ill; and practice all safety measures including masking, social distancing, and increased handwashing.