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St. Joseph’s hospital in Bellingham reported it surpassed its previous pandemic record high by caring for 40 COVID-related patients on Saturday, Sept. 11, as Whatcom County saw its highest weekly total of reported hospitalizations last week. The 40 COVID patients Saturday surpassed the hospital’s previous high of 39 set less than two weeks earlier on Aug. 30. The total dropped five on Sunday, but climbed two Monday to sit at 37, the hospital reported.

News of the new record came as PeaceHealth Regional Chief Medical Officer Dr. Sudhakar Karlapudi told The Bellingham Herald that the hospital, which is operated by PeaceHealth, was still “at that cusp” of facing a COVID crisis like many other hospitals around the state and country.