A record number of COVID-19 patients at The University of Kansas Health System today. 39 patients are being treated for the virus, up from 31 yesterday, which is a new high. 11 patients are in the ICU, up from 10 yesterday. Eight of those ICU patients are on ventilators, same as yesterday. One of the patients being treated is 18 years old, and the age range of those in the ICU is 30 to 86. Ventilator patients range from 30 to 72 years old. The hospital has recorded 45 deaths from COVID-19.
Joining the conversation today was David Alvey, Mayor of KCK/Mayor and CEO of the Unified Government of Wyandotte County. Born and raised in the Dotte, his great-grandfather established the first school to educate both black and white children back in 1869 in the Oak Grove area. Education has always been a core focus for Mayor Alvey who taught at Rockhurst High School and was Dean of Students. He shared his thoughts about going back to school safely and what the COVID-19 numbers look like in Wyandotte County. Also, Dr. Jed Gorlin from the Community Blood Center talks about the expanded call for convalescent plasma to fight COVID.
Mayor Alvey says the county is making progress since the mask-wearing mandate took effect last month but worries there are still some places where they don’t understand the act of kindness it is. He reports the county is seeing 43 new cases a day, which is back to the same levels as the spike in April. He says the problem is some thought it was over and went back to their old ways. He reminded everyone that where masks are required, there has been a decrease in transmission, but admits that unfortunately there is still some non-compliance and gatherings in large groups. He asks a simple question of those not wearing a mask: “Which of your relatives are you willing to infect?” He says when you don’t wear a mask, “You’re playing Russian roulette with your health and your family’s health.” He stresses the less we do the simple things to stop the infection, the more we have to do extreme things to help those with the virus. Alvey, a former teacher, also had advice for those teachers heading back to the classroom.
Dr. Gorlin says the Community Blood Center is still short of all types of blood because of fewer blood drives during the pandemic. He says with the upcoming Labor Day holiday and more people undergoing surgeries, the need is critical. He urges people to register to come to one of their blood centers and says, “It’s the only donation that comes out of your arm, not your wallet.” He also discussed convalescent plasma, which is plasma from recovered COVID-19 patients, and how it’s being used to help some current patients. In his words, “It’s not a home run, but a bunt single. It’s OK if given early.” He urges those who have recovered from the virus to donate their plasma to possibly help someone else.
Dana Hawkinson, MD, medical director of infection prevention and control at The University of Kansas Health System, emphasized wearing a mask is not a sign of weakness, but doing what’s right. He ranked the effectiveness of face coverings from a fitted N95 mask to a bandana and said anything is better than nothing. He pointed out that science and peer-reviewed articles have proven masks are safe and effective in stopping the spread of the disease. He says if you don’t want to believe science or even your own conscience, then look at it from an economic point of view. The sooner COVID-19 is stopped, the sooner sports, restaurants and stores can get back to normal.
Steve Stites, MD, chief medical officer at The University of Kansas Health System, says masks have been helping stop disease spread since the flu pandemic of 1918. He answered a viewer’s question about COVID-19 numbers and said there is no reason to lie or inflate those numbers, and to do so is “stupid.” He answered another question about why so many people are dying from the virus by saying there’s no prevention or cure, just a treatment of symptoms. But he said we will have a vaccine. He also discusses why some patients with the disease seem to get heart inflammation and said the current death rate of 8 to 9 percent is really high, but a lot less than at the beginning of the outbreak. He says we can stop COVID-19 in its tracks by wearing a mask, washing our hands, socially distancing and avoiding group gatherings.
Tuesday, August 11 at 8:00 a.m. is the next daily briefing call. Mario Castro, M.D., MPH, Vice Chair for Clinical and Translational Research and pulmonologist at the University of Kansas School of Medicine Department of Internal Medicine and Director of Frontiers: University of Kansas Clinical and Translational Science Institute updates a COVID-19 vaccine trial update along with co- principal investigator Dr. Barbara Pahud, MD., MPH, Research Director of Pediatrics Infectious Diseases at Children’s Mercy and Clinical Associate Professor of Pediatrics at the KU School of Medicine
Our guest is David Alvey, Mayor of KCK/Mayor and CEO of the Unified Government of Wyandotte County. Born and raised in the Dotte, his great-grandfather established the first school to educate both black and white children back in 1869 in the Oak Grove area. Education has always been a core focus for Mayor Alvey who taught at Rockhurst High School and was Dean of Students. He shares his thoughts about going back to school safely. Also, Dr. Jed Gorlin from the Community Blood Center talks about the expanded call for convalescent plasma to fight COVID.
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