North Central Public Health District and Mid-Columbia Medical Center issued a statement today that with COVID-19 cases in Wasco County rising rapidly, they are urging all residents to protect themselves — and one another.  They are asking people to wear a mask whenever out in public doing things like grocery and retail shopping, practice social distancing, and to get a COVID-19 shot if they haven’t already.  The statement says area hospitals are seeing an influx of patients who require hospitalization due to COVID-19.  They note getting vaccinated is any easy way to keep yourself, and others, out of the hospital.