NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WTVF) — As active COVID-19 cases around the state steadily increase, Tennessee hospital leaders preparing for the possibility of capacity overflowing due to new hospitalizations for the virus.
During Gov. Bill Lee's weekly coronavirus update on Wednesday afternoon, the state said hospitals are making room where they can for new COVID-19 patients, but the worry is not just about available beds - available staff are becoming limited once again.
Dr. Wendy Long, president of the Tennessee Hospital Association, said during the press conference if our health care system becomes overwhelmed with COVID-19 patients, it could lead to even more hospital staff getting sick and being sent home to quarantine.
She warned this is already happening in the state, adding these are not concerns she normally has and called the situation inside hospitals right now grim.
"The spike in new cases that we're seeing combined with the increase in the average age of patients who are newly diagnosed is creating an environment where we have an ever-growing number of families that are facing the reality of a seriously ill loved one, connected to one or more forms of life support, whom they can't be with in the hospital and who may or may not survive this illness," Long said. "If the health care system becomes overwhelmed with COVID patients, it will jeopardize not only our ability to care for those patients, but our ability to respond to heart attacks and strokes and injuries, and the many other types of care that hospitals are relied upon to provide in communities on a daily basis."
Tennessee's health commissioner Dr. Lisa Piercey said staffing is a top priority right now.
Piercey said there is $51 million in grants for hospital staffing assistance available to help pay overtime or recruit more staff members. However, competition is stiff as hospitals across the nation are all trying to increase staffing.
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See all our coronavirus coverage here
COUNTY-BY-COUNTY CASES IN TENNESSEE
What is COVID-19 (a.k.a. the new coronavirus?)
According to the World Health Organization, coronaviruses (CoV) are a large family of viruses that cause illness ranging from the common cold to more severe diseases. Examples include the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS-CoV)and Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS-CoV). A novel coronavirus (nCoV) is a new strain that has not been previously identified in humans. COVID-19 stands for "Coronavirus disease 2019," which is when this strain of the coronavirus was discovered.
What are the symptoms?
The CDC says patients confirmed to have the 2019-nCoV reportedly had mild to severe respiratory illness with:
- Cough
- Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
Or at least two of the following symptoms:
- Fever
- Chills
- Repeated shaking with chills
- Muscle pain
- Headache
- Sore throat
- New loss of taste or smell
At this time, the CDC believes symptoms could appear as soon as two days after exposure, or as long as 14 days.
Prevention
The CDC is recommending "common sense" measures such as:
- Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands.
- Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
- Stay home when you are sick.
- Cover your mouth and nose with a cloth face cover when around others.
- Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash.
- Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces.
