MONTEREY COUNTY, Calif. (KMUV) Hospitals across the country consider the possibility of an increase in COVID-19 patients as transmission of the delta variant continues. Medical experts and hospitals created a plan to make room for patients who need to be hospitalized for the virus.
The Community Hospital of the Peninsula de Monterrey CHOMP, for example, sees that the cases of hospitalizations of COVID-19 have increased since the beginning of July.
“In June, we hit a record low,” said the medical director of preventive infections, Dr. Marta Blum regarding the number of hospitalizations. “Later in the first week of July, we noticed that the percentages of positive results started to rise again. We also saw the difference in the number of people who needed to be hospitalized for COVID symptoms.”
Now, CHOMP has 4 hospitalized COVID patients, one of whom is in intensive care. Of the 257 individuals admitted by the virus since January 1, 97% were not vaccinated.
“Regarding whether or not we have plans to open a particular section for COVID patients, yes. We have plans and they are very flexible,” added Dr. Blum. “We can make it bigger or smaller depending on how the situation changes in the coming weeks.”
Also, hospitals are equipped with sufficient personal protective equipment, not like last year. It helped the fact that the supply chain improved, Dr. Blum explained, but also because hospital facilities now better understand what it takes to deal with the virus.
“We were always pushed to our maximum capacity,” Blum said. “So we have an idea how to handle the increase in patients.”
Despite the effort, medical experts say there is danger on the horizon. A hazard that, for the most part, was not a problem in 2020. “Last year we managed to avoid the flu season,” said Santa Cruz County Doctor David Ghilarducci. “We are concerned that there is little natural immunity from last year’s flu season, because I hardly get the flu.”
Dr. Blum added that last year flu cases were historically low. The two doctors said the easiest way to take care of yourself this year is with the COVID-19 and flu vaccine. In addition, experts confirm that each vaccine is designed to attack a particular virus. That is why the COVID-19 vaccine does not protect against the flu and vice versa.
For those who are not vaccinated, Dr. Blum advises that they wash their hands well, stay home, and get tested for COVID-19 if they feel unwell.
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