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* Photo essay at https://reut.rs/3hOPbgm (Adds link to COVID-19 graphic in paragraph 9) By Callaghan O'Hare and Maria Caspani HOUSTON, July 29 (Reuters) - The scene inside United Memorial Medical Center in Houston has become all too familiar: overwhelmed medical staff fighting to curb the wave of COVID-19 patients that come through the hospital's doors every day. While in earlier pandemic hot spots like New York the medical emergency has subsided, Texas is among the many U.S. states battling a resurgence of the virus that is straining their healthcare systems. Dr. Joseph Varon, the chief medical officer of United Memorial Medic...

SOUTHGATE, Mich. – The Wayne County Public Health Division announced Wednesday it has confirmed a total of five cases of COVID-19 linked to a wedding reception held on Saturday, July 18, at Crystal Gardens Banquet Hall in Southgate. More people may have been at risk of contracting and exposing others to COVID-19 as more than 100 people were in attendance for the indoor reception, according to Wayne County health officials. Attendees of the reception at the Crystal Gardens are encouraged to call the Wayne County Health Division at 734-727-7078 to report their contacts, get tested by a healthcare provider as soon as possible, and self-quarantine at home as directed. The health division said Wayne County’s communicable disease team is conducting a full case investigation and tracing for the...

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PORSHA: YES, THEY SAY THERE’S A NUMBER OF THINGS THEY CAN DO TO COMBAT THIS ISSUE IF IT WERE TO BECOME THE CASE, INCLUDING ADJUSTING THE CURRENT NURSING MODEL. >> IN ICU, ONE NURSE TYPICALLY HAS ONE PATIENT. WE MAY HAVE TO GO TO TWO PATIENTS WITH ONE NURSE. PORSHA: OKLAHOMA HOSPITAL ASSOCIATION V.P. OF QUALITY, LAWANNA HALSTEAD, SAYS THE SAME FOR NON-CRITICAL PATIENTS, NURSES CARING FOR THEM WILL LIKELY HAVE TO TAKE ON MORE >> WE MIGHT STOP DOING CERTAIN TYPES OF PROCEDURES. WE CAN TAKE NURSING STAFF FROM THE PROCEDURAL AREAS ALSO. PORSHA: THIS CHART SHOWING THE STATE’S SPIKE IN CUMULATIVE HOSPITALIZATIONS FROM MARCH TO JULY. HALSTEAD SAYING THESE NUMBERS CAN BE TRICKY. >> IN THE METRO AREAS OF OKLAHOMA CITY AND TULSA, ABOUT 17% OF OUR ICU IS AVAILABLE FOR PAT...

Judy and Larry Pichon on their wedding day in 1986. Judy had a rare autoimmune disease and was unable to get an ICU bed in July because they were full, and she died. If it weren't for the pandemic, Larry believes his wife would be alive. Larry Pichon hide caption toggle caption Larry Pichon Judy and Larry Pichon on their wedding day in 1986. Judy had a rare autoimmune disease and was unable to get an ICU bed in July because they were full, and she di...