Another slight increase in the number of COVID-19 patients at The University of Kansas Health System today. There are 19 patients being treated, up from 17 yesterday. Seven of those patients are in the ICU, down from 8 yesterday. Five are on ventilators, up from four yesterday. Doctors say it’s clear there has been an uptick in the number of cases, but they expect the numbers to be steady for awhile.
Dana Hawkinson, MD, medical director of infection prevention and control at the health system joined the group to talk about how he safely traveled back home from his Florida vacation. Dr. Allen Greiner, Unified Government Chief Medical Officer talked about fluctuating numbers and where they think we’re headed in this pandemic. Dr. Jessica Kalender-Rich also joined the discussion to field questions about when and how to reopen nursing homes.
Dr. Kalender-Rich, who was just notified of her selection to the White House Coronavirus Commission for Safety and Quality in Nursing Homes, says while infection control has improved in nursing facilities, the virus is still there, and the CDC recommends testing workers in those facilities weekly. She says it’s really tough on residents, whose routines are disrupted, and their families who can’t visit, but it’s still too early to reopen them. She hopes that will come sooner rather than later. Of all the COVID-19 deaths in the United States, 43 % have been in long term care facilities, and 53% of the COVID-19 deaths in Kansas have been in those facilities. She explained why it’s OK for someone to pick up their parent from a nursing facility and take them to a doctor’s appointment, but why they can’t go inside the facility with them. And she said those in memory care are the highest risk residents because they’re least likely to be able to wear a mask or practice proper social distancing. She says outside visits will be the best way to minimize the risk to loved ones, when visits are again allowed.
Dr. Greiner said there’s been an uptick in COVID-19 cases in the Metro area, especially in Wyandotte County, in the last ten days. He showed how the numbers of deaths and the rate of positive tests in the county are way up. He says sheltering in place has worked to protect older relatives, friends and neighbors from the virus. He says we must remain vigilant and keep our social circle small if we want to reverse the trend.
Dr. Hawkinson is just back from several days of vacation in Florida. He recounted all that he did to stay safe, and noted what he observed from other tourists, both on the beach and out in public. He addressed a viewer question about whether it’s necessary to self-quarantine after a trip, especially from New York or Illinois. He also addressed whether leaving your mask in a hot car will kill the virus. He says it’s more likely the ultraviolet rays will do the job than the heat.
Dr. Steve Stites, chief medical officer of The University of Kansas Health System, said we must all determine our own levels of risk when confronting COVID-19. He says it’s important to know what battles you can fight and what to let go. He also gave advice on knowing when to seek care for your symptoms. He says the pillars of infection control we’ve been practicing for months must go with us everywhere.
Tuesday June 16 at 8:00 a.m. is the next daily briefing call. The focus is the impact of COVID-19 on the homeless, and how that impacts all of us. Bryan Meyer, founder and chief executive officer of the Community Veteran’s Project joins the panel. Also joining is Dr. Nicole Yedlinksy, Department of Family Medicine, an expert on medical conditions that are unique and common to military veterans. She is also an Army veteran.
ATTENTION: media procedure for calling in:
The meeting is available by Zoom, both video and by phone. To join the Zoom Meeting by video, click https://kumc-ois.zoom.us/j/7828978628
Telephone dial-in Participants:
For those without Zoom, call 1-253-215-8782, meeting ID: 782 897 8628.
The feed is also available via TVU grid. The TVU source is UoK_Health and is being made available to all.
Feel free to send questions in advance to medicalnewsnetwork@kumc.edu.
