The University of Kansas Health System reports higher COVID patient numbers today. 21 with the active virus are being treated, up from 18 yesterday. Seven patients are in the ICU, up from five yesterday. Four are on ventilators, the same as yesterday. 24 other patients are still hospitalized because of COVID but are out of the acute infection phase, up from 19 yesterday. That’s a total of 45 patients, up from 37 yesterday. HaysMed reports 15 total patients, up from 10 yesterday.
On today’s Morning Medical Update, many are wondering what the next few months will look like across the region as the holidays kick in and people are huddled indoors. Dawn O'Connell, the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response (ASPR) with Health and Human Services joined Dr. Catherine Satterwhite, HHS Region 7 administrator, with an update on COVID here in our region and what current case numbers mean as we head toward another year.
Before discussing today’s topic, doctors addressed the rising numbers of COVID patients. They noted that wastewater testing in Lawrence showed the last two data points are the highest they’ve been the entire pandemic. They say that should concern us because wastewater testing has historically predicted the rise in case counts.
Dawn O’Connell explained how ASPR was born from the tragedies of September 11 and Hurricane Katrina. They also helped with the Joplin tornado in 2011. Her department handles the public health portion of disasters like those and was instrumental in distributing PPE and ventilators from the Strategic National Stockpile to Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, and Iowa during the pandemic. They’ve also ramped up distribution of rapid home testing. She wants to assure those who don’t trust the vaccines that they have all been fully tested, not rushed, and are safe. She strongly advises everyone to check their sources of information to make sure it’s not misinformation.
Dr. Satterwhite echoes that sentiment, saying, “If you’re not sure, don’t share,” when it comes to accurate information about COVID and the vaccines. She’s excited about the potential of a pill to treat COVID and says HHS is already planning for the public rollout. She’s also “incredibly excited” that those five to 11 can now get the vaccine and tells parents that if they get their child’s first shot this week, they will be fully vaccinated by Christmas.
Dana Hawkinson, MD, medical director of Infection Prevention and Control at The University of Kansas Health System, says the rise in COVID numbers is concerning. He says data continues to show this is a pandemic of the unvaccinated, as more than 90 percent of those who are dying are unvaccinated. To those who claim they are doing their own research, he says research is more than looking at Facebook. He believes COVID will be part of our daily lives for several years down the road, and we’ll likely get an annual COVID shot like we get a flu shot. But he stresses that we must all get vaccinated now to get to that point.
Steve Stites, MD, chief medical officer at The University of Kansas Health System, says, “The past teaches us about the future of the virus. The future is it’s still out there and will always be out there and the minute we let our guard down it will be back.” The worst part of the pandemic for him has been watching something that has been a public health emergency become a political tool. He says, “It’s not just a pandemic of Republicans or Democrats, red states or blue states, or black, white or Asian, it doesn’t matter. It’s a pandemic of all of us.” He adds we must go to any distance to help each other through it.
Wednesday, November 17 at 8:00 a.m. is the next Morning Medical Update. The intersection of faith and science is a common phrase heard on this show throughout this pandemic. Tomorrow the brother of one of Time’s 100 Most Influential People who received a life-saving procedure doctors say could also be called a miracle.We hear from Chris Graham and his doctors.
NOTE: Journalists should rejoin the Morning Medical Update at 8am as doctors are growing too busy again for individual interview requests. Please bring questions or send to medicalnewsnetwork@kumc.edu until further notice. Thanks for all you do and helping to keep the community safe with your reporting.
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