Newman Regional Health is seeing an increase in elderly coronavirus patients needing hospital stays.
Speaking after the hospital Board of Trustees’ monthly meeting Wednesday, CEO Bob Wright said the hospital had seen 83 percent of its patients under the age of 65 from March to June. Over the last two months, close to two-thirds of patients have been above age 65.
Overall, the local stats track closely to the state numbers, but Wright says the local stats reflect two decidedly different situations — the early outbreak in meatpacking, which largely had patients in the 45-60 age range, and the current outbreak affecting long-term care. He says the state has had a more steady age distribution through the pandemic.
With flu season approaching, Wright is urging residents to get their flu vaccines.
Acute care volume is up “significantly” over the past six weeks, while elective procedures are approaching 90 percent of last year’s volume. Wright expects the pandemic will continue into next year, but he says the hospital can’t shut down elective procedures if there’s an extended spike in COVID cases this fall and winter.
