OF MASKS AND SOCIAL DISTANCING. >> HOSPITALS ARE STILL DEALING WITH THE CRISIS AND OPERATING AS IF THERE COULD BE A LOT MORE PATIENTS. KIM BUT THE NUMBER OF : HOSPITALIZED CORONAVIRUS PATIENTS CONTINUES TO DROP SINCE ITS PEAK ON MAY FIFTH. WITH THINGS STARTING TO RE-OPEN IN PHASE ONE, THEY HAVEN’T SEEN ANOTHER WAVE OF INFECTIONS, AT LEAST NOT YET. >> I THINK WE SHOULD BE HOPEFUL THAT WE WON’T SEE A MAJOR SECOND SURGE AND GIVEN THE TIME THE VIRUS TAKES TO INFECT AND BE TRANSMITTED IT MIGHT BE SEVERAL , WEEKS BEFORE WE SEE WHETHER THAT COMES TRUE OR NOT. KIM UNDER CURRENT PROTOCOL : PEOPLE SHOULD CONTINUE TO PRACTICE SOCIAL DISTANCING AND WEAR MASKS IN PUBLIC PLACES, BUT THAT IS BEING PUT TO THE TEST , AS LARGE DEMONSTRATIONS TAKE PLACE IN BALTIMORE AND OTHER CITIES IN RESPONSE TO THE DEATH OF GEORGE FLOYD. >> IT IS VERY UNFORTUNATE WHAT’S HAPPENING BUT THE HOSPITALS ARE , READY TO DEAL WITH IT WHETHER THAT’S THROUGH RE-EMERGENCE OF THE INFECTION OR OTHER INJURIES ASSOCIATED WITH THE PROTESTS. KIM BUT AS THE CORONAVIRUS : INFECTION RATE GOES DOWN, NEW HEALTH CONCERNS ARE EMERGING. >> WE’RE STARTING TO SEE A LITTLE BIT OF AN UPTICK IN MENTAL HEALTH PROBLEMS THE , CONSEQUENCES OF ISOLATION THAT PEOPLE HAVE SUFFERED AS WELL AS , THE STRESSES, THE LOSS OF EMPLOYMENT, THE FAMILY STRESSES YOU NAME IT. ,KIM ATLAS SAYS HOSPITALS ARE : NOW FOCUSED ON THE ’NEW NORMAL’ WHICH MEANS BALANCING CORONAVIRUS PATIENTS WITH OTHER PATIENTS. >> WE STILL HAVE OVER ONE THOUSAND PEOPLE WITH A DISEASE THAT DIDN’T EXIST A YEAR AGO IN HOSPITALS EVERY DAY. SO AS LONG AS THIS DISEASE EXISTS AS LONG AS WE DON’T HAVE , A VACCINE WE ARE IN NEED OF , HAVING HOSPITALS BE READY FOR WHATEVER COMES. KIM ATLAS SAYS HOSPITALS AREN’T : FACING A SHORTAGE OF PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT ANYMORE BUT THE COST FOR ACQUIRING IT HAS GONE UP ASTRONOMIC
Maryland hospitals still preparing for possible surge of coronavirus patients
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Updated: 5:32 PM EDT Jun 1, 2020
Maryland's number of hospitalized coronavirus patients continues to decline with just more than 1,100 still receiving treatment as of Monday, but hospitals remain on alert.|| Coronavirus updates | Maryland's latest numbers | Where to get tested ||"Hospitals are still dealing with the crisis and operating as if there could be a lot more patients," said Bob Atlas, president and CEO of the Maryland Hospital Association.The number of hospitalized coronavirus patients continues to drop since its peak on May 5. With the state starting to reopen in stage one, hospitals haven't seen another wave of infections, at least not yet."I think we should be hopeful that we won't see a major second surge, and given the time the virus takes to infect and be transmitted, it might be several weeks before we see whether that comes true or not," Atlas said.Under current protocol, people should continue to practice social distancing and wear masks in public places, but that is being put to the test as large demonstrations take place in Baltimore and other cities in response to the death of George Floyd."It's very unfortunate what's happening, but the hospitals are ready to deal with it, whether that's through re-emergence of the infection, or other injuries associated with the protests," Atlas said.As the coronavirus infection rate goes down, new health concerns are emerging."We're starting to see a little bit of an uptick in mental health problems, the consequences of isolation that people have suffered, as well as the stresses: the loss of employment, the family stresses, you name it," Atlas said.Atlas said hospitals are now focused on the new normal, which means balancing coronavirus patients with other patients."We still have over 1,000 people with a disease that didn't exist a year ago in hospitals every day, so as long as this disease exists, as long as we don't have a vaccine, we are in need of having hospitals be ready for whatever comes," Atlas said.Atlas said hospitals aren't facing a shortage of personal protective equipment anymore but the cost for acquiring it has gone up astronomically.
BALTIMORE — Maryland's number of hospitalized coronavirus patients continues to decline with just more than 1,100 still receiving treatment as of Monday, but hospitals remain on alert.
|| Coronavirus updates | Maryland's latest numbers | Where to get tested ||
"Hospitals are still dealing with the crisis and operating as if there could be a lot more patients," said Bob Atlas, president and CEO of the Maryland Hospital Association.
The number of hospitalized coronavirus patients continues to drop since its peak on May 5. With the state starting to reopen in stage one, hospitals haven't seen another wave of infections, at least not yet.
"I think we should be hopeful that we won't see a major second surge, and given the time the virus takes to infect and be transmitted, it might be several weeks before we see whether that comes true or not," Atlas said.
Under current protocol, people should continue to practice social distancing and wear masks in public places, but that is being put to the test as large demonstrations take place in Baltimore and other cities in response to the death of George Floyd.
"It's very unfortunate what's happening, but the hospitals are ready to deal with it, whether that's through re-emergence of the infection, or other injuries associated with the protests," Atlas said.
As the coronavirus infection rate goes down, new health concerns are emerging.
"We're starting to see a little bit of an uptick in mental health problems, the consequences of isolation that people have suffered, as well as the stresses: the loss of employment, the family stresses, you name it," Atlas said.
Atlas said hospitals are now focused on the new normal, which means balancing coronavirus patients with other patients.
"We still have over 1,000 people with a disease that didn't exist a year ago in hospitals every day, so as long as this disease exists, as long as we don't have a vaccine, we are in need of having hospitals be ready for whatever comes," Atlas said.
Atlas said hospitals aren't facing a shortage of personal protective equipment anymore but the cost for acquiring it has gone up astronomically.
