Tuesday Media Briefing on COVID-19

The number of COVID-19 patients being treated at The University of Kansas Health System is the same today as Friday. 18 are hospitalized, though the number dropped to 13 yesterday. Four patients are in the ICU, down from 7 Friday. 2 are on ventilators, same as Friday. 2 other patients are still on ventilators but are out of the acute infection phase. Doctors say more young people are testing positive these days which is why there are fewer hospitalized patients as there were at the beginning of the pandemic.
It’s the first day of school for many students around the metro. In KCK the decision was made to start the year off virtually. Dr. Erin Corriveau, Deputy Medical Officer, Unified Government Public Health Department joined to talk about that. She’s worked closely with Pastor Glenn Brady of the New Bethel Church in KCK. He joined the panel today too to talk about how he inspires his flock.
Dr. Corriveau says the numbers are lower in Wyandotte County, though not enough people are coming for testing. She also explained why community testing is so important in fighting the pandemic. She advised children in school to constantly wear a mask and try to stay with the same group of kids in the classroom. She discussed the long-term effects that stress from dealing with the pandemic can have on our health. She also says that wearing a mask is a simple act of kindness toward one another.
Pastor Brady talked about how his congregation has coped with the outbreak, saying they have limited full services, doing some virtually and some outdoors. He advises his flock to embrace “wisdom with faith.” He’s also helped his members cope with the stress by advising them to find truth, solace and comfort through the scriptures and now allow themselves to be overwhelmed. He believes science and faith can walk together.
Dana Hawkinson, MD, medical director of infection prevention and control at The University of Kansas Health System, says outdoor activities have helped lessen the spread of COVID-19, but as fall and cooler weather approach, it will be harder. He says testing will be more important than ever and says saliva testing will be a big part of that effort. He explained that the state of Kansas says some churches are still COVID-19 hot spots, but that churches can still hold services safely. He says as school begins, parents need to remind their kids to keep their mask on, keep their distance and reassure their kids that everything will be OK.
Steve Stites, MD, chief medical officer at The University of Kansas Health System, says in general businesses have been doing a good job of enforcing mask wearing. The key, he says, will be in the next four to six weeks as we see the effects of the Labor Day holiday weekend. He advised everyone, with cool morning temperatures coming this week, to take the cold weather challenge and look how far your own breath travels away from you. He echoes Pastor Brady by saying grace, wisdom, hope, love and science can help us through this pandemic.
Wednesday, September 9 at 8:00 a.m. is the next morning media update. Dr. Louis Satterwhite, pulmonary and critical care physician at the health system joins us to talk about life in the ICU for COVID-19 patients and medical staff. His wife, Dr. Catherine Satterwhite, is Regional Health Administrator for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. She will also join the conversation to update the bigger challenges facing efforts to protect public health during this pandemic and heading into fall.