Another uptick in the number of COVID-19 patients at The University of Kansas Health System today. 35 patients are being treated for the virus, up from 33 yesterday. 8 of those patients are in the ICU, down from 11 yesterday. Four patients are on ventilators, same as yesterday.
Expectant mothers have many questions and fears. Carrie Wieneke, chair of OBGYN, updated what we know about COVID-19 and pregnancy and explains the biggest misconception people have about going through pregnancy with the virus. Dr. Whitney Pressler, Medical Director Newborn Nursery, answered the number one question from expectant moms who have a lot of fear around COVID-19 during pregnancy and delivery.
Dr. Pressler said the number one question she gets from families is how to keep a baby safe in a pandemic. She answers that question and several others, including whether COVID-19 antibodies can be passed on to a baby through breast milk. She says no. She understands it’s been very hard on siblings who can’t visit the new baby in the hospital because of limited visitor policies most hospitals have enacted. She also said some grandparents may need to be isolated before a first-time home visit depending on their activities. She feels it’s good that schools are offering parents options for this fall but says those children in the K-3rd grade level, the emerging readers, may suffer more harm by not being in class and developing those skills. She says you can’t expect those children to learn for long in front of a video monitor, which is more suited to older students who can do more on their own. She advises having children practice wearing a mask around the house now before school starts.
Dr. Wieneke says the biggest misconception about going through pregnancy with COVID-19 was that the mom and baby would automatically be separated. She’s heard that fear caused many to not seek pre-natal care and look at a home birth option. She says it’s not the case and there are many things the hospital does to keep mom and baby together. She says there have been quite a number of COVID-19 positive mothers giving birth during the pandemic, some in the last 24 hours. The biggest concern for moms is staying healthy, and she says that is the same today as before the pandemic. She says there’s no right answer to the question of whether to get pregnant during the pandemic, as each situation is different. She says it’s best to talk with your doctor about it. She says there has been no greater risk of miscarriage in the first trimester of COVID-19 moms and that all current medications being used for those patients are safe for expectant mothers. She adds that we’ve learned a lot in the past few months about pregnancy and COVID-19 and are working daily to make it as safe as possible.
Dana Hawkinson, MD, medical director of infection prevention and control at The University of Kansas Health System, when asked if he would fly today, as he did on vacation six weeks ago, said he would not. He says more people are flying now and the rising numbers of cases suggest not as many people are observing social distancing, wearing a mask and keeping their hands washed. He also said the once-touted drug hydroxychloroquine does not work for COVID-19 patients, and in fact can do more harm by making other drugs less effective.
Steve Stites, MD, chief medical officer at The University of Kansas Health System, says the mask culture must grow and local gatherings must be limited if we’re going to bring the numbers down. He believes it’s a “fool’s folly” to think that every kid should go back to school this fall without a mask.
Wednesday, July 29 at 8:00 a.m. is the next daily briefing call. Greater Kansas has not escaped COVID-19. We will hear from Dr. Heather Harris, Medical Director of our HaysMed Campus and Dr. Jennifer Jackson in Internal Medicine in Wichita in Sedgewick County that remains a hot-spot for COVID-19. And, patient Anil (A-Neal) Gharmalker of rural Kansas is back in the hospital. He updates his medical journey as COVID-19 continues to be a battle for him nearly three months later.
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