Kentucky hospitals see increase in coronavirus hospitalizations.
Monica's package.
Also alarming...some kentucky hospitals are seeing an exponential increase in patients...more than over the summer.
Remember, that big focus initially in march was on containing the virus so we wouldn't overwhelm hospitals...and force doctors to make decisions about who could receive treatment.
Abc 36's monica harkins talked to the head doctor at a hospital in morehead about what increased hospitalizations could mean.
Nat pop coronavirus care can be mild like rest and fluids...to extreme like 24/7 supervision in a hospital.
"dr. melahn yeah, we're definitely seeing an increase."
Dr. william melahn is the chief medical officer for st.
Claire healthcare...a hospital in morehead.
Some critical of governor beshear say he's being alarmist by showing hospitalization data.
"dr. melahn: that is absolutely not alarmist at all.
That is exactly the kind of information that we need to be sharing right now.
That's actually late information."
Late information as in people need to help start slowing the spread of the virus before it gets to hospitalization.
At st.
Claire...the increase in patients might not seem huge.
Dr. melahn says it's about seven as compared to one or two a few months ago...but it's enough to cause concern right now for smaller, rural hospitals.
Lexington hospitals say they're doing okay...but even they're seeing increases.
There were 57 covid-19 patients tuesday at u-k and 42 at baptist health... "dr. melahn:' maybe not everybody needs to be hospitalized,' let me just dispel that myth right away.
The patients that we have with covid are very ill.
They require a lot of supportive care about 40% of ours have required intensive care" and dr. melahn also says don't think it's just the elderly in the hospital.
"who cares.
Everybody who is a person deserves appropriate treatment...i don't care if they're 92 or 29, it's still a tragedy to die of a preventable illness like this."
Remember, the scary stories from early spring when doctors in italy had to choose who lived and who died?
Could that happen in kentucky or are hospitals ready for more cases?
Dr. melahn says hospitals will do whatever they have to.
" we're absolutely ready.
But we certainly can get overwhelmed."
So he says take care of yourself long before you get sick...wear your mask...and evaluate your syptoms...but if there is more... hospitals like st.
Claire will be there.
Monica harkins abc 36 news.
### ots image:right deadly wreck accident.jpg a person is dead after a two-vehicle crash in laurel ### ots image:right deadly wreck
Maryland's Department of Health on Monday reported for the first time, that a child under age 10 had died from COVID-19.
Dr Fauci Warns of
'Surge upon Surge' , of Coronavirus Infections .
Dr. Anthony Fauci made the statement during
a..
