Houston County suffers COVID-19 surge

The nation is currently undergoing a surge of COVID cases unlike anything we have seen before. Across the country, people are hospital ridden, forced to adhere to the consequences of coming in contact with someone who was exposed to the coronavirus, and Georgia is no exception.

According to Vice President of Medical Affairs and Chief Medical Officer at Houston Healthcare Dan Stewart, both of our local hospitals are full. Stewart specified, saying, “I think we were at right about 120 this morning on COVID positive.” This number comes from both Houston Medical Center as well as the Perry Hospital. “For perspective, back during the July and August timeframe, our peak we were at probably 60 plus COVID, and even last Monday, we were at I think 83,” he said.

“We’re experiencing unprecedented numbers,” Stewart stated. According to him, the number of COVID positive patients in hospitals right now is over 5,000, whereas in mid-December, we were closer to 12 or 14 thousand.

“I think we’re beginning to see the results of the Christmas holiday right now, because Friday will be two weeks out from that,” Stewart said. He went on to clarify, “Usually you see most people who have been exposed start getting symptomatic within about five days, but can be as much as 14 days.” However, this holiday-based surge has not reached its end. “The next wave will be what people did at New Year,” Stewart explained. “Friday will be a week out from New Year’s [Day], and next week will be the second week after that, so I’m expecting probably more.”

Our hospitals are working to make as much space as possible for patients as well. According to Stewart, Houston County’s hospitals “are on Critical Care Diversion.” However, they are reworking existing spaces to make room more patients. “We have a small pediatric floor here that has eight beds on it. We shut that down, and converted that all to COVID patients, so we’re on [pediatric] diversion, so all of our pediatric patients go to the children’s hospital.” On top of finding more space, our hospitals are also looking for more staff. “I think PV Putney down in Albany has asked for and is getting some National Guard help. I know we’ve asked the governor’s office if that’s possible for us to get some help.” Houston County hospitals have not yet received this help.

However, as much as hospitals are trying to help these COVID patients, they also still have patients who need assistance that are not COVID related. “We are trying to accommodate patients who need things done, to maintain their health and to get things evaluated, so we can’t completely ignore those patients just to take care of COVID patients. We’re trying to do both,” Stewart explained.

Stewart described the environment and staff of the hospitals as “stretched, and tired, but very dedicated.” He expressed his gratefulness to every member of the hospital staff, saying that each of them have “responded and are continuing to respond as you would expect them to, as true professionals.” Stewart went on to share, “They talk about the World War II generation as being quote, ‘The Greatest Generation’ and certainly that generation had to respond to a crisis of immense proportions that lasted for about four years, but this generation, the ladies and gentlemen up there in the hospitals and in our hospitals in particular, are responding in the same kind of measure. They have responded to this generation’s greatest call.”

Sharing further, Stewart advised, “In December of 2020, the FDA approved the use of the Pfizer vaccine, for emergency use in response to COVID-19. I know a good number of people have declined the vaccine so far, and that is, in my estimate, a mistake. People need to think of not only [them]selves, but also their loved ones, and their fellow human beings, and go out and get protected. They need to get vaccinated.” He shared that “as soon as we have vaccines available, people need to step up to the plate, people need to get vaccinated.” According to Stewart, vaccines will be available for the mass public in late January or early February, and will be available to groups like the elderly and first responders beginning next week.

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