Doctors at a news conference sponsored by the University of Kansas Health System on Wednesday morning wondered if they were seeing the first wave of patients exposed to COVID-19 from over the Memorial Day weekend.
KU Health System reported 14 patients in the hospital on Wednesday morning, up from 11 on Tuesday, according to Dr. Dana Hawkinson, KU Health System medical director of infection prevention and control. Seven patients were in the intensive care unit, as compared to five on Tuesday, and three were on ventilators, an increase from two on Tuesday.
Dr. Steve Stites, chief medical officer at KU Health System, said a number of states now are reporting spikes in hospitalizations, traced to Memorial Day weekend, May 25.
Dr. Hawkinson said symptoms usually appear one to two weeks after exposure, and an inflammation process might be seen three to four weeks after the infection, which is when they start to see hospitalizations.
Dr. Stites said hospitalizations here are still much below the earlier peak in the 40s. Doctors noticed the jump from 10 to 14 hospitalizations, but the coming days or weeks will tell if there will be a peak.
In Wyandotte County, the Unified Government COVID-19 website reported 1,551 total cumulative positive COVID-19 cases at 4:40 p.m. Wednesday, an increase of 31 cases since 4 p.m. Tuesday The number of deaths and hospitalizations saw no change since Tuesday.
In Kansas, the Kansas Department of Health and Environment reported 10,812 cases and 240 deaths from 90 counties as of 9 a.m. Wednesday. It was an increase of 162 cases and four deaths since Monday.
During a discussion on Wednesday morning, doctors talked about isolation, loneliness, the effects of COVID-19 on Alzheimer’s patients, and also, helping adolescents cope with isolation.
Dr. Hawkinson joined the news conference by video, explaining that he was taking a vacation to the beach in Florida. He described his flight on a plane, how 80 to 90 percent of the passengers were wearing masks, how there was more space between passengers than usual, and he said he wore a mask and goggles. He said he washed his hands and used hand sanitizer frequently.
Dr. Danielle Johnson, psychologist, said isolation is harder for kids , especially teens. She encouraged families to spend time together, eat meals together, talk together and be aware if anyone is experiencing loneliness.
Dr. Jeff Burns, a neurologist who is co-director of the KU Alzheimer’s Disease Center, said a third of COVID-19 deaths in the nation have taken place in long-term care facilities. He recommended using technology to stay connected with residents in nursing homes and facilities.
Dr. Greg Nawalanic, psychologist, encouraged people to socialize using technology, to read, to write letters to residents in long-term care facilities, and to send pictures from the grandchildren. He suggested asking residents about times they weren’t in the long-term care facility, such as memories of family trips and stories that take them back. He said it’s beneficial to tell stories about the past that takes the resident out of their current experience and lets them be themselves.
Testing continues
COVID-19 testing continues on Thursday afternoon at the UG Health Department parking lot, 619 Ann Ave.; at the Swope Health testing at 21 N. 12th St., Suite 400, (Bethany office building); from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at La Fe en Jesucristo, 1500 Central Ave.; and from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. at Zotung Christian Church, 5010 Parallel Parkway.
More details about testing, such as hours and whether an appointment is needed, are available at https://wyandotte-county-covid-19-hub-unifiedgov.hub.arcgis.com/pages/what-to-do-if-you-think-you-have-covid-19.
The KU doctors’ news conference is online at https://www.facebook.com/kuhospital/.
The UG’s COVID-19 information page is at https://alpha.wycokck.org/Coronavirus-COVID-19-Information.
Wyandotte County is currently under Phase 3. See covid.ks.gov.
The state plan’s frequently asked questions page is at https://covid.ks.gov/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/Reopening-FAQ_5.19.2020_Final.pdf.
Test sites are listed at https://wyandotte-county-covid-19-hub-unifiedgov.hub.arcgis.com/pages/what-to-do-if-you-think-you-have-covid-19.
The CDC’s COVID-19 web page is at https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-nCoV/index.html.