The University of Kansas Health System is treating a total of 10 COVID patients today, up from 8 yesterday. Other significant numbers:
- 6 with the active virus today, 4 yesterday
- 1 in ICU, 0 yesterday
- 1 on ventilator, 0 yesterday
- 4 hospitalized but out of acute infection phase, 4 yesterday
Key points from today’s guests:
Dr. Dana Hawkinson, medical director of Infection Prevention and Control, The University of Kansas Health System
- Believes we are in the next wave of the virus
- Original omicron and delta have been replaced by two subvariants
- Our community is in the early stages of what other parts of the nation are seeing
- Graduations, weddings, and outdoor gatherings are increasing. Boosters and public health measures such as masking in large groups can reduce our risk of catching or spreading COVID
Dr. Amber Schmidtke, Chair, Division of Natural Sciences and Mathematics, University of St. Mary
- The popularity of at-home testing has led to a big decrease in COVID test results being reported to state and Federal health officials, making it more difficult to accurately reflect community spread.
- It’s too soon to tell whether schools will be back to requiring masks when classes start in the fall
- COVID levels in wastewater have been rising, which is usually an indicator of rising community COVID rates
- 60% of U.S. counties are in the high COVID range where it would be a good idea to resume wearing masks
Andrea Boepple, Community Blood Center
- KC Metro area is in a blood emergency, with just a two or three-day supply of most blood types and platelets
- A seven-day supply is what’s needed to keep up with demand from area hospitals
- Blood supplies are expected to be even lower with the Memorial Day weekend coming
- Those who donate between today and next Tuesday, May 31, are in the running for one of two new grills.
Wednesday, May 25 at 8:00 a.m. is the next Open Mics With Dr. Stites. Alzheimer's disease is the most common cause of dementia among older adults. We’ll show you the impact COVID has had on Alzheimer's patients, plus doctors weigh in on at home tests for memory loss.
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.
