Month: November 2020

UnityPoint Health Des Moines confirmed to KCCI Monday that all hospitals are at capacity for the first time since the COVID-19 pandemic began. UnityPoint Infectious Disease Specialist Dr. Rossana Rosa said the hospitals saw a 25% increase in admitted COVID-19 patients between Friday and Monday.Rosa called the situation “critical” and said full hospitals could result in long emergency room waits and the cancellation of elective surgeries."This is truly the worst point that we have ever experienced throughout the pandemic,” Rosa said. “Not even when we were into the May peak did we have numbers that were this high."According to Rosa, community spread of the virus is more pronounced now than it was during May’s spike in cases. She also noted a shortage in staffing that did not impact th...

Updated 6:10 pm In its largest single day report, the Martha’s Vineyard Hospital reported 20 new cases of COVID-19 over the weekend in a troubling sign for the Island as it continues to see a spike in confirmed cases. In a phone call with The Times, Tisbury health agent and boards of health spokesperson Maura Valley confirmed that at least seven of the 20 cases are employees of Cronig’s Market, which is being considered a cluster after 10 of its employees tested positive for the virus. Contact tracing is being conducted on all cases to determine where others may have contracted the virus. Valley stated that some of Cronig’s cases are symptomatic while others are not. “I think it’s definitely community spread. What we’re seeing is some families and social groups, but we’re still in the p...

A coronavirus outbreak has been linked to a Chevrolet dealership in Michigan, with health officials in Grand Ledge reporting 13 recent cases among employees. The Barry-Eaton District Health Department said anyone who visited the Sundance Chevrolet dealership, located at 5895 E. Saginaw Highway, between Oct. 29 and Nov. 6 should monitor for symptoms and limit contact with others. If customers who visited the dealership develop COVID-19 symptoms, “seek a COVID-19 test as soon as possible, and start isolating yourself immediately,” the health department said, in a news release. At this time, customers are encouraged to “pay special attention” to any symptoms or changes in health. At least 13 employees have been sickened.  (iStock) Eaton County has been experiencing an inc...

Advocate Aurora Health, which has 12 hospitals in Illinois, last week said it would no longer allow visitors at most of its hospitals — except in certain cases, such as childbirth, emergency department visits, pediatric appointments, patients with disabilities and end-of-life patients. (Photo courtesy Advocate Aurora Health)