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Wichita hospitals report significant increase in COVID-19 patients

Wichita hospitals report significant increase in COVID-19 patients

Wichita hospitals report significant increase in COVID-19 patients

Wichita’s two major hospitals, Ascension Via Christi and Wesley Medical Center, are reporting a significant increase in patients with COVID-19 since the Christmas holiday.  They talked to Wichita City Council members Tuesday through an internet connection and said they are facing a very challenging situation.

Sedgwick County’s Local Health Officer, Dr. Garrold Minns, told the Council that there was an increase of over 6,700 cases of COVID-19 during the past week, and that may be a low number that doesn’t account for people who tested positive at home.   He said that’s the highest number of cases in a week’s time since the beginning of the pandemic.   Dr. Minns said there may be a variety of causes for the increase, including the appearance of the omicron variant, holiday gatherings, and flat numbers for vaccinations.   Just over 50 percent of the eligible population in Sedgwick County has been vaccinated.

Dr. Minns said the vaccine is excellent at preventing serious illness from COVID-19, and it can reduce transmission, but it does not eliminate transmission.

Dr. Sam Antonios, chief clinical officer with Ascension Via Christi, said more people have been coming into the emergency room and that has affected the care of other patients.  Dr. Lowell Ebersole, chief medical officer for Wesley Healthcare, said there has been an increase of 37 percent in COVID-19 patients since Christmas Day.  He said the latest count is 119 patients, 40 in the ICU and 18 of them have been on ventilators.    He said 90 percent of the patients are unvaccinated, and that percentage has been consistent.   He said 97 percent of COVID deaths have occurred with unvaccinated people.      Dr. Ebersole said staff members have also been affected, in spite of precautions, and over 100 employees have been in quarantine at home.    He said staff members are tired and frustrated but they are dedicated to continuing to provide patient care.

Dr. Antonios said it is never too late to get the vaccine.  He said “We hate to see when people are in the hospital regretting why they didn’t get vaccinated, because they ended up in an ICU versus being able to be at home, and unfortunately we have seen a lot of those cases.”

Wichita hospitals are still in a critical status, reporting a total of 253 patients with 77 in the ICU.    Sedgwick County’s positive testing rate has jumped to 19.7 percent.

Sedgwick County has been using the former downtown library at 223 South Main as the main vaccination site.  City Council members are asking city staff to look at ways that other city resources can be used to provide easier access to the vaccine.

 

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