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 the hospitals in May.“I think in a way the dashboard put up by (the Iowa Department of Public Health) does not fully reflect the situation, because you may have a few beds left but we are very short in staff,” she said.On Monday, the Iowa Department of Public Health reported more than 4,200 additional coronavirus cases over 24 hours.According to the IDPH website, 84 of Iowa’s 99 counties report 14-day average positivity rates above 15%. Polk County reports a 17% average positivity rate in the last 14 days.The Polk County Health Department issued a “critical Polk County hospital public announcement” in partnership with UnityPoint Health Des Moines, MercyOne Des Moines and Broadlawns Medical Center.In the announcement, the hospitals and health department urged Polk County residents to help “change the trajectory of this disease.”Polk County residents are asked to protect themselves and others by wearing masks, washing hands frequently, staying home when sick, getting flu shots, practicing social distancing and requiring masks during gatherings of more than 10 people.The full announcement can be found here.
DES MOINES, Iowa —
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 the hospitals in May.
“I think in a way the dashboard put up by (the Iowa Department of Public Health) does not fully reflect the situation, because you may have a few beds left but we are very short in staff,” she said.
On Monday, the Iowa Department of Public Health reported more than 4,200 additional coronavirus cases over 24 hours.
According to the IDPH website, 84 of Iowa’s 99 counties report 14-day average positivity rates above 15%. Polk County reports a 17% average positivity rate in the last 14 days.
The Polk County Health Department issued a “critical Polk County hospital public announcement” in partnership with UnityPoint Health Des Moines, MercyOne Des Moines and Broadlawns Medical Center.
In the announcement, the hospitals and health department urged Polk County residents to help “change the trajectory of this disease.”
Polk County residents are asked to protect themselves and others by wearing masks, washing hands frequently, staying home when sick, getting flu shots, practicing social distancing and requiring masks during gatherings of more than 10 people.
The full announcement can be found here.
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