“They have continued to provide care willingly and skillfully for the last 364 days,” said Milton, saluting the STHS team’s unflagging efficiency, innovation, thirst for knowledge and – perhaps most of all – compassion.
STHS infectious disease specialist Dr. Mike Hill then concluded the event with a message of hope.
“Were almost there,” Dr. Hill said. “There’s hope. We’re giving out vaccines, over 10,000 vaccines so far, (with) more to come, and that’s the way out of this, along with masks and social distancing.
“Let’s not let down our guard,” he continued. “Let’s do it for our neighbors. Let’s do it for those who have died of COVID and in their memory.”
St. Tammany Health System’s first COVID-positive inpatient was diagnosed on March 13, 2020. Since then, it has admitted 1,222 COVID inpatients and diagnosed 1,626 additional outpatients. As of Friday morning (March 12), it had also performed 30,158 COVID tests and administered 14,508 vaccines.
Currently, it has seven COVID inpatients, down from a high of 66 in January.