The University of Kansas Health System is caring for 113 total COVID patients today, down from 132 Friday. Other significant numbers:
- 1 COVID death in last 24 hours, 26 COVID deaths for month of February
- 40 with active virus, 58 Friday
- 4 in ICU, 13 Friday
- 2 on ventilators, 5 Friday
- 73 hospitalized but out of acute infection phase, 74 Friday
Key points from today’s guests:
Dr. Mario Castro, Vice Chair for Clinical and Translational Research, KU Medical Center
- Taking part in national clinical trial looking at long haul patient symptoms and treatments. Covid-research-team@kumc.edu for more information
- Research has shown that with vaccination, chances of developing long haul symptoms cut in half. Also, if you had COVID and then got the vaccine, it helps reduce long haul symptoms
- COVID and its variants will be the biggest public health crisis we face in the next decade
- Believes COVID treatment will eventually use combination therapy
Stephanie Rawe, long hauler patient
- Had COVID and now suffers long haul effects of brain fog, anxiety, muscle pain and insomnia
- Had to leave job and move in with family. Experience has been “really humbling.”
- Felt symptoms ease each time she received vaccine or booster
- Hopes clinical trial will lead to treatment for her symptoms
Dr. Steve Stites, Chief Medical Officer, The University of Kansas Health System
- Says it’s too soon to know how bad BA 2 variant will be, but stresses we will see one variant after another.
- It takes time to learn about each variant. That’s how science works
- We will have to try a lot of different things to help long haul patients before finding what works best
- “The more you know about science, the more you have to learn.”
Dr. Dana Hawkinson, medical director of Infection Prevention and Control
- Trials such as this are how treatments are developed for all diseases
Tuesday, February 22 at 8:00 a.m. is the next Morning Medical Update. You’ll meet a young girl and her family and show how one of our doctors helped save her life after a brain bleed, plus the special gift they gave this doctor. Also, a new procedure called middle meningeal artery embolization that will likely become the standard of care in treating some types of brain bleeds and how the health system is one of few in the country with this treatment.
ATTENTION: media procedure for joining:
Zoom link: https://kumc-ois.zoom.us/j/7828978628
Telephone Zoom link: 1-312-626-6799, meeting ID: 782 897 8628
TVU Grid link: UoK_Health_SDI
Restream links: Facebook.com/kuhospital
YouTube.com/kuhospital
Send advance questions to medicalnewsnetwork@kumc.edu.
