A group of doctors and nurse practitioners are urging the public to stay vigilant in the fight against COVID-19.

The Memorial Hospital staff in Jasper says the drastic increase in COVID-19 cases in the last several weeks has been alarming.

The health care workers are encouraging Dubois County and surrounding areas to doing their part when it comes to helping slow the spread of the virus.

“We know that masking, social distancing, and hand washing will help us ensure that we have the resources to care for the patients who are most in need. These things are easy to do and help curb the spread of illness while allowing us to keep vital businesses operating and our economy strong,” the hospital staff wrote in an open letter to the community.

The Memorial Hospital Physicians and Nurse Practitioners say the cases from over the Thanksgiving holiday are overwhelming hospital staff as we head into another holiday weekend.

They are asking for increased mask-wearing, hand-washing, and social distancing guidelines.