After several days of record highs, the number of COVID-19 patients at The University of Kansas Health System is steady today. 78 patients are hospitalized, up from 77 yesterday. 34 patients are in the ICU, down from 36 yesterday. The number of those ICU patients on ventilators jumped from 13 yesterday to 21 today, which is the highest percentage in the last few weeks. 47 other patients are still hospitalized because of COVID-19 but are out of the acute infection phase, up from 45 yesterday. That’s a total of 125 patients, up from 122 yesterday. Two patients died since yesterday, bringing the total number of deaths at the health system to 119 since the start of the pandemic. In addition, HaysMed has 35 total COVID-19 inpatients with 2 of those patients in the recovery phase, down from 36 yesterday. One COVID-19 patient died since yesterday.

            Kansas Governor Laura Kelly was expected as our guest today and had to cancel due to a scheduling conflict.

            On the Morning Media Update today, David Wild, MD, vice president of performance improvement, joined Dana Hawkinson, MD, medical director of infection prevention and control and Amanda Gartner, director of quality and safety.  They shared the latest numbers showing the Midwest still the hottest region in the country for COVID-19, Kansas and Missouri rates still climbing rapidly and the number of combined hospitalizations in the Metro at nearly 450. The health system has had 22 deaths in October and November, with the average age of those deaths at 64. HaysMed reports 26 deaths in October and November. Overall a third of the health system’s admissions for COVID-19 since the pandemic began have come in the last six weeks.

                                                (video here)

Here are the media and community questions in the order the panel addressed them, followed by the short answer. See the video for their full answers and comments.

• Kids have not been tested very much during the pandemic. Will they get the vaccine when it’s available?  Right now, the vaccines are targeted to adults. Kids may get the vaccine later next year.
• What is the panel’s opinion of Kansas Governor Kelly’s mandatory masking order? Anything we can do to increase the adherence to masking will benefit us all. They are safe and most of the general population can wear one.
• What is the biggest story people are not talking about? How healthcare workers are tired and stressed but holding up. Also, small town public health officials battling a population that won’t wear a mask.
• If people all started following the infection control measures tomorrow, how long would it take to bend the curve in Kansas City? Today’s infections are a result of behaviors 5-10 days ago. It usually takes 3-4 weeks to see a reduction in cases. “Things are very quick to get worse and very slow to get better,” says Dr. Wild.
• What are the top co-morbidities that put people with COVID-19 more at risk? Age 65 or older, obesity, diabetes, heart conditions and immune-compromised patients, such as those on chemotherapy.
• Is a young adult son who tested positive for COVID-19 in early November and now back to work safe to come for Thanksgiving? It depends on whether he lives at home or not and his current social bubble. It’s best to spend Thanksgiving with only those who live in your household.
• What’s the status of convalescent plasma, remdesivir and monoclonal antibodies? Latest studies show convalescent plasma not as much benefit. Remdesivir still being used in clinical trials in Unites States. Early data shows monoclonal antibodies have benefit.
• Why don't you think spread is happening at schools when staffing is way down due to COVID-19? There has been no widespread transmission from classrooms. It’s mostly from after school activities and catching it in the community. Faculty and staff must stay safe, especially in school break rooms and meeting rooms.
• Should I travel on a plane now?  Airlines advertise they are safe. The CDC is discouraging all holiday travel. You can be safe on a plane if wearing a mask, face shield and goggles. Airports themselves are a bigger risk. Cars are safer than planes.
• Is it safe to put two COVID-19 positive patients or people in the same room in the hospital or at home? The health system has not had to do so, but it would not be a big risk.
• The health system reports 900-plus licensed beds and only 120-some COVID-19 patients.  That doesn't sound overwhelming. Why is the healthcare community feeling so stressed? The number of licensed beds is not the same number that can be fully staffed. Most beds are not designed for COVID-19 patients, and no other disease takes up 20% of all beds like this one. All of the other reasons that people come to the hospital have not gone away.
• I thought my mom was having a stroke by the sounds of her speech over the phone, but tests showed it was foggy brain from COVID-19. We never would have guessed that. Can you list the primary symptoms you're seeing with patients now? Some patients only see this confusion while others report aches, coughs, fever, shortness of breath and loss of taste and smell.
• With the increasing rate of COVID-19 patients in the hospital, how do you determine who is admitted and who goes home? Are some people waiting too long to come to the hospital? Very specific criteria for hospital admission and discharge are followed. Some are waiting until their symptoms are more severe to seek medical help.
• If you have symptoms but tested negative, should you be retested?  If yes, how long should you wait? Yes. Best to ask your doctor or health department how soon for retesting. It also depends on whether your first test was an antigen test or a nasal swab test.
• Is it safe for family members to visit an 80-year-old relative for Thanksgiving one at a time for eating? If these are people not in the daily household, it still poses a risk.
• What do you think of the study that shows immunity after COVID-19 might last a long time, even years?  Will that be the same for people who get the vaccine? The study seems sound but is only one study. This study focused on B and T cells which is different than previous immunity focused studies. Regarding the vaccine, a yearly booster will probably be needed.
•  What is the percentage of staff at the health system who are either COVID-19 positive or out waiting for test results? About three and a half percent. All are believed to have contracted it in the community rather than in patient care areas.
• What are your thoughts on taking vitamins, especially C and D, to protect against COVID-19? They can’t hurt, but there’s no evidence that it will help prevent the virus.

Monday, November 23 at 8:00 a.m. is the next Morning Media Update. KCK Mayor and Chief Executive Officer of the Unified Government Mayor David Alvey joins us to update the virus spread in KCK and Wyandotte County and talk about testing as well as masking efforts in the community.

ATTENTION: media procedure for calling in:

 The meeting is available by Zoom, both video and by phone. To join the Zoom Meeting by video, click https://kumc-ois.zoom.us/j/7828978628

Telephone dial-in Participants:

For those without Zoom, call 1-253-215-8782, meeting ID: 782 897 8628.

The feed is also available via TVU grid. The TVU source is UoK_Health and is being made available to all.

Feel free to send questions in advance to medicalnewsnetwork@kumc.edu.