Morgan Co. Leads State in Per Capita COVID Cases

WAAY-31's Bridget Divers discusses Morgan County's state in the face of a staggering number of COVID Cases.

Tonight -- morgan county is experiencing a surge in coronavirus cases, and health professionals are concerned about how people's behavior during the thanksgiving holiday could make things even worse.

Waay-31's bridget divers is at decatur morgan hospital's parkway campus to show us why it's so important to follow all the recommended safety measures in the coming weeks.

Dan, najahe -- i was at the covid unit earier today and the doctors and nurses told me we should all be worried about ourselves and all those around us.

Susan dickerscheid/ nurse on the covid unit "if you're not worried about your safety, at least keep someone else's safety in mind.

We do it when we get behind a car every day and you know we try to watch out for everyone else around us, at least try to watch out for everyone else's health as well."

Susan dickerscheid works as a nurse on the covid unit at decatur morgan hospital's parkway campus.

She says her patients all expereince the virus differently.

"you may have someone who's young and very sick, you may have someone who's old and not very sick.

It's constantly changing no one's the same."

Doctor alex penot says working during the coronvirus pandemic has been tough.

Dr. alex penot/ doctor at decatur morgan hospital "it's very difficult to be concerned about the patients and also realizing that you're potentially at danger yourself."

Concerns about brigning the virus home and spreading it to family members adds to that worry.

"and it's just stressful the amount of, you know several days you've got people that you're intubating several people, several people are dying in the same day.

It's just a very difficult process to get through."

They want us all to remember the virus can affect anyone.

Susan dickerscheid/ nurse on the covid unit "there's no rhyme or reason.

The virus doesn't decide based on a person's age, on their gender, on anything.

There's no constant."

For thanksgiving the doctors and nurses are suggesting that family members wear masks around one another and spend less time in poorly ventilited areas and more time outside.

And if possible, family members should eat thansgiving dinner in shifts to be able to spread out more.

Live in decatur, bridget divers, waay-31 news.