Delta-variant driven increases in coronavirus cases have resulted in three people needing treatment in the ICU at Manhattan’s Ascension Via Christi. Hospital president Bob Copple tells KMAN it’s an unusual situation as staffing usually allows for one-to-two or one-to-three caregiver-to-patient care.
Copple says ten people are being treated for COVID currently at Ascension Via Christi.
Copple says the stats bear out how effective vaccines have been against coronavirus, especially with the effects of the Delta-variant on those who haven’t been vaccinated.
Copple reiterates that visitor restrictions are ongoing.
As of Thursday, there were 150 active coronavirus cases in Riley County, according to the health department.
The seven day average for new COVID hospitalizations in Kansas is up to 65 per day. If each of these patients has a multi-day stay, according to Copple, it can potentially lead to quickly using up hospital capacity across the state. A less than typical five day stay would potentially use up to 325 hospital beds. If the stay is longer, it requires 455 hospital beds. Patients entering the Intensive Care Unit, typically have several days there before being transferred up to a medical bed prior to discharge, adding to bed and capacity needs. Copple says the only way to get ahead of this is to reduce the initial number of infections. (Source: KDHE)Chart indicating how vaccinated people greatly reduce infections, hospitalizations and deaths from COVID-19. (Source: CDC)
