▶️ Listen to this article now.

SANDPOINT — Hospitals in the region — from Washington to North Idaho to Montana — are at full capacity, and that includes Bonner General Health, local health officials said Wednesday.

That means all of the hospital's beds are full and/or its staff and health care providers are caring for the maximum number of patients recommended, said Erin Binnall, BGH public information officer.

"However, there are patients in our community who still have strokes, heart attacks, car accidents, and other illnesses," Binnall said. "When our regional hospitals are at capacity, the ability to care for these patients is impacted."

A 25-bed critical access hospital, Binnall said BGH current has five COVID patients, two in the ICU unit and one on a ventilator.

"Unfortunately, it has become next to impossible to transfer patients needing a higher level of care to other hospitals," she said.

Adding to the challenges, Binnall said the hospital is also facing an oxygen supply shortage. As an example, she said one large canister of oxygen weighs 100 pounds, stands 5 feet tall and is a foot in diameter. However that same canister typically last 1 1/4 to 1 1/2 hours per patient on high flow oxygen.

The state of Idaho's predictive model shows this current COVID-19 surge is expected to peak in October.

In response to the increased COVID-19 cases, many of which are the Delta variant instead of the original Alpha variant, BGH has reinstated its incident command team. That team will meet weekly to evaluate best practices, develop up-to-date policies, and continue to create emergency plans to address space, supplies, testing, and staffing issues as well as other logistical considerations for managing a potential surge of patients, Binnall said.

The team includes those employees with a response role during a crisis, including hospital physicians, nurses, and administrators. In addition, the hospital collaborates with Panhandle Health, Bonner County Emergency Management, EMS officials, Kaniksu Health Services, and community providers.

"Bonner General Health is committed to the safety of each one of our patients, employees, and our community," Binnall said, noting that 42% of Bonner County is vaccinated for COVID-19. "We encourage anyone not vaccinated to do so."

The vaccine helps prevent or lessens the severity of COVID-19 symptoms, decreasing hospitalizations that further strain the area's health care system, Binnall said.

"Take the time to ask questions and learn all you can about the COVID-19 vaccine from reliable sources so you can make the most informed decision about getting vaccinated," she added.

Free vaccinations are available at most pharmacies.