Hospitalized COVID-19 patients at the University of Kansas Health Services have tripled since Thanksgiving, according to doctors.
Dr. Chris Brown, a hospitalist at KU Health Services, said on Wednesday that the pandemic has worn doctors and their colleagues down, and has changed the way he and other hospitalists do their jobs.
He said he is managing patients and their families, as many family members of patients may have caught COVID. The main KU hospital is located in Kansas City, Kansas.
According to Dr. Steve Stites, chief medical officer at KU Health System, the omicron strain now is the dominant strain of COVID, and is about 73 percent of all new cases. Omicron has spread very fast, and it is too soon to say what effect it will have on hospitalizations. The current surge is mostly from delta, he added.
Dr. Stites said that although masks are not popular, when they are combined with more vaccinations and boosters, it will be the best way out of the pandemic.
People know how to bend the curve, and should not let the curve bend them, he added.
Dr. Dana Hawkinson, medical director of infection prevention and control, said early data shows the vaccines are effective against omicron. While he thinks it’s more than likely everyone will be infected at some point, those who are vaccinated stand the best chance of a mild case and faster recovery, according to Dr. Hawkinson.
To see a video of this discussion, visit https://www.facebook.com/kuhospital/videos/348317599958498.
Vaccines available over the holidays
Some vaccine clinics, such as the Unified Government’s Kmart facility at 78th and State, are on a holiday schedule, and will be open for free COVID vaccines from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Wednesday of next week. The Kmart facility also will be open from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Wednesday next week for free testing. The Kmart site is closed Dec. 23 and 24, and Dec. 30 and 31. For more information, see WycoVaccines.org.
The vaccines.gov website was showing some vaccination sites open today in Wyandotte County. Some of these included area pharmacies with slots still open. Some of the sites were taking appointments online, while others can be contacted by phone. Some of the sites are closed on Dec. 24.
It takes about two weeks for a booster vaccine to fully take effect, according to information from the UG Health Department.
COVID cases increasing
On Wednesday, KU Health System reported a total of 83 COVID inpatients, down one from Tuesday, with 64 active COVID inpatients being treated, an increase of one from Tuesday. Only three COVID patients were vaccinated. There were 19 COVID patients in the intensive care unit, the same as Tuesday, with 14 on ventilators, an increase of one. Nineteen other COVID patients were still in the hospital because of COVID but were out of the acute infection phase, a decrease from 23 on Tuesday.
On Thursday, the UG Health Department COVID information website reported 27,215 total cumulative COVID cases, an increase of 89 cases since Wednesday, and an increase of one death, for a cumulative total of 404 deaths.
On Wednesday, the UG COVID information website reported an increase of 80 cases since Tuesday, and an increase of one death.
The UG Health Department reported 56.8 percent of Wyandotte County residents had at least one dose of the COVID vaccine, while 47.82 percent of Wyandotte County residents had completed their vaccinations.
You have to wonder if the county officials have any regrets for stopping the mask mandate? Seems not.
The mask mandate wasnt lifted until 12/16 so its too soon to have an effect on hospitalizations. So this spike happened with the mask mandate in place.
Does not matter. Just glad I am not in the medical field taking the bruising they are.
As the article confirms, 80 of the 83 Covid patients were NOT vaccinated. This is the bottom line. The unvaccinated are currently the main reason we are still fighting this virus. Until the majority of mankind are vaccinated, the Covid pandemic will continue, families will remain split apart due to Covid safety measures (due to the unvaccinated), and life as we all had prior to Covid will be impossible. The vaccine is just medicine. The same people refusing the vaccine take diabetic medication for diabetes; they take allergy medication for allergies; they take aspirin for aches and pains. The same process that made all these medications also made the Covid vaccine. Please just take your Covid medicine (vaccine) so we can have our lives back. And before any more deaths related to Covid. Please, get vaccinated.
Agree with your statement 100%. Not sure people understand how simple it is to help ALL of us.