Detroit Beaumont Metro hospitals have reached critical capacity amid rising COVID

Hospitals in Beaumont have reached critical capacity levels as COVID-19 infections continue to rise across Michigan, officials said Thursday.

Beaumont Health says Metro Detroit hospitals and staff have reached critical levels of capacity amid rising virus. Officials said Thursday morning that the number of patients with COVID-19 at Beaumont hospitals had reached more than 800, exceeding the number of patients seen during the state’s latest virus surge in the fall. The health care system reportedly cared for only 128 patients with COVID-19 on 28 February.

Beaumont officials and health workers are calling on Michigan residents to “take immediate personal action to help stop the spread of the virus.”

“Our COVID-19 numbers are growing faster and faster and it is very worrying and alarming to see this,” said Beaumont Health CEO John Fox. “We are grateful for the knowledge gained from the first two surges. He helped save many lives. We now also have effective vaccines. To flatten the curve again, we all need to work together now: wear masks, wash your hands, avoid big dates, practice social distance, and get vaccinated. We can’t do this alone. We need everyone’s help right away. ”

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More: Beaumont Health expands COVID units as growth grows, visitors need vaccination card

Just a few weeks ago, the health system restored visitor restrictions as the spread of coronavirus increased rapidly throughout the region, in an effort to protect patients and staff. Currently, no visitors are allowed to enter the rooms of patients in Beaumont who are either waiting or confirmed positive for COVID-19.

“The new COVID-19 variants are more contagious. The patients we see are younger, and some are sicker and need intensive medical attention, ”said Dr. Nick Gilpin, medical director of infection prevention and epidemiology at Beaumont. “Some younger patients also seem to wait longer to receive care, believing they can beat the virus. Until I come to the hospital, we see intense illness with pneumonia, blood clots and severe lung damage. This trend does not seem to be slowing down. ”

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Beaumont’s announcement comes as several Metro Detroit health care systems have sounded alarms about the hospital’s dangerous levels of capacity due to the increase in COVID patients in recent weeks.

The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services said last week that about 18 percent of all COVID tests return positive. With such new cases daily, more people are expected to be hospitalized in a few weeks.

“We are on the verge of seeing a potential increase in cases that is even greater than the one we saw in the fall,” said Dr. Joneigh Khaldun, MDHHS medical executive director.

“Hospitals are evaluating and implementing their growth plans, including considering the cancellation of elective surgeries that are not sensitive to time and are preparing to ensure that they have the equipment, supplies and staff to be able to care for both COVID patients. , as well as by those who are not with COVID ”, Khaldun continues.

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Despite alarming levels of the virus, Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer said the state will not impose new restrictions, but will fight growth by stepping up COVID vaccinations. National health officials disagree with the plan, saying Michigan should be “shut down” in response to the spread of the virus.

During a news briefing on Wednesday, Whitmer pushed coronavirus therapies in an effort to help COVID-19-infected residents and prevent them from being hospitalized. She says therapies do not replace COVID-19 vaccinations.

More: How COVID cases in Michigan can help therapeutically

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