COVINGTON, Louisiana – Facing a recent, single-day record of nearly 7,000 new COVID-19 cases in Louisiana, hospital leaders across the Northshore, including at St. Tammany Health System, once again united in pleading with residents to slow the spread within the community.
Even amid the rollout of vaccines, the group advised that practices such as wearing masks, social distancing and isolating when ill are the most effective ways to protect each other.
On Monday (Jan 18), the Louisiana Department of Health reported that 1,894 people were hospitalized with COVID-19, with 239 of those patients are on ventilators.
“Effects from gatherings over Christmas and New Year’s Eve are starting to come in — the numbers are proving it,” said Hiral Patel, CEO, Lakeview Regional Medical Center. “We have to be more vigilant moving forward, giving our healthcare workers a break.”
Over the last several days, local hospitals have experienced an influx of patients needing hospital care, including an increase in COVID patients.
“Hospital capacity fluctuates by day and even the hour,” said Michele Kidd Sutton, FACHE, President/Chief Executive Officer, North Oaks Health System. “While the recent increase in COVID patients most definitely strains overall capacity across the region, Northshore hospitals currently have sufficient bed capacity, equipment and staff resources to manage both COVID and non-COVID needs safely. But that could change if we stay on the current trajectory. This is why we are asking the public to stay vigilant with universal precautions to help slow the spread.”
“Everyone needs to do their part to stop the spread,” said Our Lady of the Angels Hospital President Rene J. Ragas. “Mitigation tactics include covering your mouth and nose in public, avoiding crowds, and keeping your distance from people who don’t live in your household.”
The group reassured the public that hospitals continue to meet the community’s health needs and advise patients not to delay accessing needed healthcare, whether COVID related or not.