The number of COVID-19 patients at The University of Kansas Health System is lower today. 11 patients with the active virus are being treated, down from 14 yesterday. Two of those patients are in the ICU, the same as yesterday. One is on a ventilator, the same as yesterday. Ten other patients are still hospitalized because of COVID-19 but are out of the acute infection phase, down from 11 yesterday. That’s a total of 21 patients, down from 25 yesterday. HaysMed has two patients today.
On today’s Morning Media Update, Mayor Quinton Lucas joined us to update the impact of COVID-19 on KCMO. He had the latest on the vaccination effort and his outlook for the future.
Before discussing today’s topic, doctors revealed that while COVID-19 cases around the Metro area are steady, all of the area chief medical officers are getting nervous about hospitals in Springfield, Missouri filling up because of the rise in COVID-19 cases, with some having to transfer patients to other facilities. They haven’t had to do that in six months. Plus, the average age of those hospitalized for the virus in Springfield is 42, which is a lot younger than before, and almost all are unvaccinated. Nearly all the patients have the Delta variant, which is more transmissible than the original virus, and will soon be the most common variant in the country. Our doctors also noted a CDC advisory panel is meeting today to look into reports of myocarditis, or inflammation of the heart, in some who have had the vaccine. They stress the condition is temporary and usually goes away on its own.
Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas says things are going well for his wife and two-month-old son, Bennett. He says he’s learning how to balance his fairly busy day job with his most important job of being a dad. He also says as soon as vaccines are approved for all children, Bennett will be getting his. For vaccinations, the mayor has broken the population into three groups. First is those who couldn’t wait to get their shots and have done so. The second is those who, for whatever reason, hate vaccines and the government. He says the city will continue talking with them and adds medical providers will have a big role in convincing them for years to come. The third group is those who realize vaccines are necessary, but just haven’t gotten around to it yet. He’s seeing progress in that group, but says it will be an ongoing effort, sometimes involving he and health department workers knocking on doors in some communities to spread the word and offer the vaccine. He remembers this country has been through this before, whether it was wearing seat belts or stopping smoking, but he’s confident the constant outreach will pay off. He says vaccinations so far have allowed the city to loosen restrictions on gatherings and mask requirements and feels most area businesses have reopened responsibly. He acknowledges we still have a way to go on vaccinations, but he’s proud of everyone’s perseverance and says those who are vaccinated should pat themselves on the back for making sure we’re keeping ourselves and others safe.
Dana Hawkinson, MD, medical director of Infection Prevention and Control at The University of Kansas Health System, joined from his vacation in Colorado, where he says they have embraced the masking culture from the very beginning of the pandemic. He says Colorado is seeing the same trend of hospitalizations rising in rural areas where fewer people are vaccinated. He plans to spend a lot of time outdoors, which he urges others traveling this summer to do. He especially warns those who travel to areas where vaccination rates are low to be extra cautious. He says this continues to be a behavioral disease, and reminds us the vaccine offers protection, even from the Delta variant. The coming Fourth of July holiday makes him, and other doctors, very nervous, especially for those who gather inside. But he hopes the level of vaccinations will keep the virus from spreading like it did during each of the summer holidays last year.
Steve Stites, MD, chief medical officer at The University of Kansas Health System, says when the vaccines receive full FDA approval, which he thinks may be coming soon, many businesses, including the health system, may begin requiring all employees to be vaccinated. To those who feel the vaccines were rushed or are too new, he says nearly 2 billion people have safely been vaccinated and it’s time to believe what science and the evidence are proving. He says, “I understand some hesitation. I don’t understand the paranoia.” He adds, “We’ve said we’re recovering from COVID. Remember, that is not the same thing as recovered. You don’t want to think it’s over when the game is still being played.” He urges, “Don’t be shy, don’t be fearful, don’t be afraid. Instead, look forward to the rest of your life and live it safely with the COVID vaccination.”
Thursday, June 24 at 8:00 a.m. is the next Morning Media Update. We are going to hear from more long haulers. Daniel Freeman is a Chaplain here at the health system and has been suffering from his bout with COVID-19 for a long time. He's going to share his story along with Amber Styles, who is also an employee here at the health system in risk management. Both had different stories with COVID-19, and both have suffered long haul symptoms.
ATTENTION: media procedure for calling in:
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