Doctors at The University of Kansas Health System told reporters the hospital is currently caring for 25 inpatients who are confirmed positive for COVID-19 and 25 inpatients who are currently being tested. Ten of those 25 patients are on ventilators. All are on a unit dedicated to COVID-19 and away from other patients.
Doctors say we should know in about a week, by looking at national trends, whether social distancing is working. Click on the video below for the full news briefing.
- Rick Couldry, PharmD, VP, Pharmacy told reporters about a new test for COVID-19 that will soon be available. He also talks about how the community is coming together to help healthcare providers, and how there’s a need for more medical swabs…which are not the same as normal Q-Tips.
- Dana Hawkinson, MD, Medical Director of Infection Prevention and Control, continues to remind us that proper hand hygiene and keeping your hands away from your face is the single most effective way to stop the spread of the disease. He also talks about whether the general public really needs a mask, and how safe it is to eat takeout food from a restaurant.
- Steve Stites, MD, Chief Medical Officer at the health system explains how flattening the curve will help healthcare providers get caught up on supplies. He also has examples of how area hospitals are working together in unprecedented ways.
Wednesday, April 1, at 8:00 a.m. is the next daily briefing call with media. One topic will be the hospital’s efforts to help across the state of Kanas. The feed is now available via TVU grid. The TVU source is UoK_Health and is being made available to all. You will still need to call-in to ask questions.
Telephone dial-in Participants:
Dial: 1-913-588-2222, and enter 50041981# when prompted for the Call ID.
