The University of Kansas Health System reports a lower number of active COVID-19 patients being treated today. 78 people with the active virus are hospitalized, down from 82 yesterday. 35 patients are in the ICU, down from 37 yesterday. 26 of those ICU patients are on ventilators today, up from 24 yesterday. 71 other patients are still hospitalized because of COVID-19 but are out of the acute infection phase, down from 75 yesterday. That’s a total of 149 patients, down from 157 yesterday. Two patients died since yesterday’s morning update. In addition, HaysMed has a total of 25 COVID-19 inpatients, down from 27 yesterday, with 21 of those active patients and 4 in the recovery phase. Two patients there have died since yesterday.
On the Morning Media Update today, December COVID-19 death totals have already surpassed November’s here at The University of Kansas Health System and that worries medical staff. We looked back at COVID-19 since the pandemic reached the Metro and where we’re headed. David Wild, MD, vice president of performance improvement, joined Steve Stites, MD, chief medical officer, Dana Hawkinson, MD, medical director of infection prevention and control and Amanda Gartner, director of quality and safety, to share the numbers and answer media and community questions.
Dr. Wild began the briefing with a look at the COVID-19 numbers at the health system since the beginning of the pandemic. 1727 people have been admitted with an average age of 57. 454 needed ICU care with more than half, 270, needing ventilators. Their average length of stay was just over 7 days. The health system has had 130 deaths, with an average age of 67 and the average length of stay for those patients at about 13 days. Monthly hospital admissions had been fairly steady until a spike in the summer. October admissions were up to 210, but the November number of 451 more than doubled that of October, and December’s admission rate is on pace to pass 500. The most sobering information though is the number of deaths. In November, a record number of 30 people died, an average of one per day. We’re barely halfway through December and the number of deaths is up to 32, an average of two per day.
Here are the media and community questions in the order the panel addressed them, followed by the short answer. See the video for their full answers and comments.
- How are counties with mask mandates doing compared to those without? Research from the University of Kansas shows counties wearing masks have lower numbers of infections than those without.
- Is the higher death count because people are sicker? Yes, but not only that, but because hospitals are seeing more patients.
- Is the health system full? The community rumor is that you are, and patients are being diverted to other places. It depends on when the request comes. ICU beds can be full when one request comes in and available later the same day as recovering patients are moved. The health system has been at near capacity for two months.
- I read that antibiotics weaken the immune system. Is it okay to get the vaccine while taking antibiotics? Antibiotics do not weaken the immune system. It’s okay to take the vaccine while taking antibiotics, unless you have an active case of COVID-19
- How is the flu season going? Are you seeing less flu since everyone is masking? Flu cases are a lot lower than what we normally see this time of year. Masking works.
- As the vaccine becomes more available, will it change any of the current therapies used to treat COVID-19 patients like steroids, remdesivir and convalescent plasma? Convalescent plasma has not proven to have a benefit, but the other therapies will continue.
- Will the Moderna vaccine be rolled out faster than Pfizer's since it doesn't have to be kept as cold? And, news reports show Moderna's side effects are worse. How worse? The Moderna vaccine will be easier to transport and store and may benefit smaller communities and hospitals. The data shows side effects for both vaccines to be the same, mainly injection site pain in some people and some muscle aches, fever and fatigue.
- I heard the Pfizer vaccine could give you facial paralysis. Is that true? If yes, is it permanent? There have been four cases of Bell’s palsy, a temporary weakness or paralysis of the facial muscles, in the placebo group. No cases were linked to the vaccine.
- What do you know about the study showing athletes who had COVID-19 are now having heart issues? How permanent and dangerous is the damage? There have been cases of people, including some athletes, with different inflammatory reactions to the virus. Doctors are concerned and are constantly monitoring for that condition. The long-term effects are not yet known.
- A Mayo Clinic study shows masks prevent droplets at three feet and is the most important thing to protect against the virus. So why do I need to stand six feet away and do we still need to wash hands and surfaces and food containers? Evidence shows the farther apart the better. Masks keep droplets closer to you than others. Washing hands is still among the best ways to keep the virus from spreading.
- I am 48 and healthy. My mother and aunt are in their 70's and have numerous comorbidities. If they take the vaccine, why do I need to take the vaccine? The only way to defeat the virus is for everyone to take the vaccine which will develop herd immunity.
Monday, December 21 at 8:00 a.m. is the next Morning Media Update. CVS and Walgreen's begin their partnership to vaccinate staff and residents in nursing homes. Dr. Jessica Kalender-Rich is a national member of the Coronavirus Commission for Safety and Quality in Nursing Homes, as well as an accomplished physician at the health system, and she has much to update us on seniors and COVID-19.
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