KU Health reports 85 total COVID-19 patients
The numbers of COVID-19 patients are increasing at area hospitals, including the University of Kansas Health System, and an increase is now being seen through Kansas, as well as in Missouri.
At the morning medical update on Monday morning at KU Health System, Chad Austin, president of the Kansas Hospital Association, said the virus is starting to spread west across Kansas. As it does, the KHA is working with smaller communities to prepare for and prevent surges that are now in the larger metro areas, he said.
Re-implementing a statewide mask mandate would be very difficult in Kansas, he thinks, but when the FDA approves full authorization of the vaccines, it will be a game changer, because it will allow more employers to require their employees to be vaccinated.
The state has enough supplies and tests for this surge, unlike last year, but the challenge will be staffing, with many taking a break or leaving the profession altogether, he said.
COVID-19 patient numbers saw a jump Monday morning at the KU Health System, according to Dr. Dana Hawkinson, medical director of infection prevention and control. There were 85 total COVID-19 inpatients, with 63 active and 21 in the intensive care unit, he said.
Dr. Hawkinson said it feels like they’re fighting with one or two hands tied behind their backs when they can’t get people to get vaccinations and mask. He said the treatments for COVID have not changed, but it’s unfortunate that most of the people now coming for that treatment are those who steadfastly refused the vaccine. They all say they now wish they had taken the vaccine.
Dr. Steve Stites, chief medical officer at KU Health System, said, “I think we’re in trouble. I said once before last fall that we were on fire and I think we’re on fire again.”
He blamed the current problem on two things. Not enough people are vaccinated, and people are not following the rules of infection prevention and control, mainly by wearing a mask. That plus the fact the Delta variant is what he calls “a different enemy.” It’s two to five times more transmissible than the original virus and it only takes a couple minutes, rather than 10 or 12, to spread.
With 95 percent of hospitalized COVID patients not vaccinated, it’s become a huge problem for hospitals around the Midwest, according to Dr. Stites. Because of all-time high patient numbers, none are able to accept transfers. The health system alone has had transfer requests from Mississippi, Georgia, Arkansas, Louisiana, Texas, New Mexico, and Oklahoma but has no room. One patient from Salina, Kansas, ended up in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, he said.
The number of COVID patients needing hospitalization is growing and filling up beds needed by people with other illnesses such heart attacks and strokes and unfortunately, some patients have died while waiting for a bed, according to Dr. Stites. The average age of patients now is 52 compared to 68 at the height of the surge last winter.
“We’re in a tough stew,” Dr. Stites said. “We’re either going to have to make a decision to try to take those rules a little more seriously and get folks vaccinated, or we’re going to pay the consequences. And I’m afraid we’re already paying the consequences as the care for heart attacks and strokes is delayed.”
He explained why the hospital is full with 85 COVID patients when the last time it was declared full with 120. The biggest reason is the current transfer acceptance rate, which used to be about 65 percent, is now at about 10 percent because so many other non-COVID patients are hospitalized now.
“If we got to 80 or 85 percent vaccination, our patient numbers would drop dramatically, and we’d have five or ten patients in the hospital,” Dr. Stites said. “Then we could take care of everybody else in the community, which we can’t right now.”
He said with the original variant, you could expect some pretty good protection after your first dose, but not so with the Delta variant. It takes both doses and about six weeks to get the most protection. He urged everyone to get vaccinated and put on a mask.
Herb Kuhn, president and CEO of the Missouri Hospital Association, said the surge in Delta cases is taking a huge toll on hospital staff. Some are exhausted and experiencing burnout. Missouri is using ambulance strike teams to help transfer patients. To see more of this update, visit https://www.facebook.com/kuhospital/videos/1410288109358062.
Free vaccines available
Free COVID-19 vaccines will be available from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Wednesday through Friday at the Kmart vaccination site, 7836 State Ave., Kansas City, Kansas. Vaccines are free for people ages 12 and older. There are gifts available, and a “Spin to Win” promotion is ongoing for Wyandotte County residents, as supplies last.
For more information on the Unified Government Health Department’s vaccine schedule, see WycoVaccines.org.
Back-to-school childhood immunizations will be available from noon to 6 p.m. Wednesdays, Aug. 18, and Aug. 25 at the Kmart vaccination site, 7836 State Ave., Kansas City, Kansas. These free immunizations are for children without health insurance or for children who are insured through KanCare (Medicaid). Parents should bring children’s vaccination records.
Cross-Lines Community Outreach will hold a free vaccine and testing event from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 19, at 736 Shawnee Ave., Kansas City, Kansas. Pfizer and Johnson and Johnson vaccines will be available. Another free vaccine and testing event will be held from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 26, at Cross-Lines, 736 Shawnee Ave. These events are being held in conjunction with the Kansas Department of Health and Environment.
Oak Ridge Baptist Church, 9301 Parallel Parkway, plans free testing and COVID vaccinations from 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 22.
Mobile vaccines can still be requested online at WycoVaccines.org or by calling 3-1-1 (913-573-5311).
Other sites available for vaccinations
Some doctors’ offices offer COVID-19 vaccinations. If you haven’t received your vaccination yet, call your doctor’s office to see if it is available now.
Free vaccinations at KU Health System are open to the public. Current patients may use MyChart to make an appointment. Others may call 913-588-1227 or visit kansashealthsystem.com/vaccine to make an appointment to get vaccinated. KU Health System currently is vaccinating residents of Kansas and Missouri who are 12 or older, by appointment only. Those under 18 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian throughout the appointment.
There are also pharmacies giving free COVID-19 vaccinations in Wyandotte County by appointment, when available. These include Price Chopper and Hen House pharmacies, which are now also accepting walk-in vaccinations or appointments, and are starting vaccinations for age 12 and up at those pharmacies that are giving Pfizer vaccine (see https://www.ballsfoodspharmacy.com/).
CVS has announced walk-in appointments for COVID-19 vaccine at some of its stores. Those interested in getting a vaccination at a CVS pharmacy are asked to visit a CVS website in order to make sure there is vaccine available. The website is at www.cvs.com/. Walgreens and Walmart also were listed on www.vaccines.gov as giving vaccinations.
Other pharmacies and sites giving vaccines are listed at www.vaccines.gov. The website also tells whether vaccines are in stock at the locations.
Case numbers reported
The University of Kansas Health System reported a jump in the number of COVID inpatients on Monday, according to Dr. Dana Hawkinson, medical director of infection prevention and control. Sixty-three patients with the active virus were inpatients on Monday, an increase of 18 since Friday. There was one death on Friday. Twenty-one COVID patients were in the intensive care unit, an increase of four from Friday. Sixteen patients were on ventilators, an increase of four since Friday. Twenty-two other patients were still hospitalized from COVID, but were out of the acute infection stage. There were a total of 85 COVID patients.
Wyandotte County reported a cumulative 21,369 cases on Monday, an increase of 186 since Friday, according to the Unified Government Health Department’s COVID-19 webpage. There was a cumulative total of 318 deaths reported, an increase of one since Friday.
On Wednesday, Aug. 11, the Unified Government Health Department reported that 43.63 percent of Wyandotte County residents had received at least one dose of vaccine. Those completing their vaccinations totaled about 36.61 percent.
The percentage of Wyandotte County residents who were age 12 and older who had received at least one dose was 53.7 percent.
The Mid-America Regional Council on Monday reported 187,168 cases in Greater Kansas City, a nine-county area. There were a total of 2,535 deaths. The daily average of new hospitalizations was 154.
The Kansas Department of Health and Environment reported 350,384 cumulative COVID-19 cases in Kansas on Monday, Aug. 16, an increase of 2,456 since Friday, Aug. 13. There was a total of 5,394 cumulative deaths reported statewide, an increase of 9 since Aug. 13.
The KDHE reported 66,528 cumulative COVID-19 cases in Johnson County on Aug. 16, an increase of 484 since Aug. 13. Leavenworth County had 8,558 cases, an increase of 58 since Aug. 13. Sedgwick County (the Wichita area) reported 62,988 cases, an increase of 399 since Aug. 13.
On Monday, there were a cumulative 36,886,005 COVID-19 cases in the United States, with cumulative 622,306 deaths, according to the Johns Hopkins Coronavirus Resource Center.
There were 664,840 vaccine doses reported administered Sunday in the U.S., with 51 percent of the population fully vaccinated.
Vaccination progress: Texas, 93,579; California, 88,454; Florida, 84,442; Illinois, 44,380; and New York, 34,795.
Vaccination progress: Brazil, 92.7 million; India, 2.01 million; Turkey, 712,200; U.S., 664,840; and Mexico, 638,000.
Countries with rising numbers of COVID-19 cases included U.S., 38,482; Iran, 36,736; India, 32,937; United Kingdom, 26,484; and Thailand, 21,882.
Free testing available
Free COVID-19 testing is available from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday to Friday at the UG Health Department’s central location, the former Kmart, 7836 State Ave., Kansas City, Kansas. Free gift cards are available to those who get a test, while supplies last.
Free testing is also available from 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Mondays through Wednesdays at Vibrant Health Cordell D. Meeks Jr. Clinic, 4313 State Ave.
Free COVID tests also are being held at the Kansas National Guard Armory, including tests from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday at 100 S. 20th St., Kansas City, Kansas. For more information, visit www.facebook.com/UGHealthDept.
Besides Health Department sites, COVID-19 testing is available at several locations in Wyandotte County.
Visit gogettested.com/Kansas and https://wyandotte-county-covid-19-hub-unifiedgov.hub.arcgis.com/pages/what-to-do-if-you-think-you-have-covid-19 for more sites.
Wyandotte County residents may contact the Health Department at wycohelp.org to sign up for a test to be delivered to their home.
For more details about free COVID-19 testing offered by the UG Health Department, visit https://wyandotte-county-covid-19-hub-unifiedgov.hub.arcgis.com/pages/what-to-do-if-you-think-you-have-covid-19, https://www.facebook.com/UGHealthDept or call 3-1-1.
To view the new mask order in Kansas City, Kansas, visit https://www.wycokck.org/files/assets/public/health/documents/covid/mask-mandate-resolution-r-47-21-effective-august-6-through-september-16-2021.pdf and https://www.wycokck.org/files/assets/public/health/documents/covid/ug-issues-mask-order-for-kck-and-other-portions-of-wyco.pdf.