Health officials in the Lynchburg area are again warning that the increasing number of COVID-19 cases there is straining hospitals and health care providers.
The Central Virginia Health District reported more than 300 new cases over the past week.
Lynchburg General Hospital had 36 patients hospitalized with COVID-19, as of Monday morning. That’s the highest number since the pandemic began, according to Doctor Chris Lewis with Centra Health. "And with COVID we’re seeing very long lengths of stay, meaning that once folks come in it takes a very long time to heal them up and discharge them," Lewis said during a Monday morning news conference.
The average hospital stay for a COVID-positive patient at Lynchburg General is about six days. That's a long hospital stay, Lewis said. And it's even longer-- 20 days-- if the patient is in the Intensive Care Unit or on a ventilator. Lewis said the combination of increasing numbers and longer stays is unsustainable without reducing other, more routine care. Centra has transferred some COVID-19 patients to its hospital in Farmville, to free up resources in Lynchburg.
At the same news conference, Central Virginia Health District Director Dr. Kerry Gateley said the recent spike has contract tracers from the health department working overtime. Gateley says cooperating with those efforts will help slow the spread. "We appreciate you’re not going to want to hear from us because it’s going to be isolation, it’s going to be quarantine, it’s going to be very inconvenient and something very difficult to do. But that’s what we have," Gateley admitted. "That’s what we have to control the spread of this virus."
Because the virus is so widespread in the Lynchburg area, Gateley and Lewis encouraged the public to act as though each person you encounter might have it. Keeping your distance, wearing face coverings and washing your hands are still the best ways to avoid getting it. "The virus loves a crowd," Gateley noted. "I encourage everyone to think from the perspective of the virus. The virus wants to spread, the virus wants to propagate. What’s the best ways for it to do that? That’s for people to be close together, coughing, sneezing, breathing, talking loudly on each other."
Lynchburg Mayor Mary Jane Dolan said the city is not considering any stricter restrictions on businesses and activities. Dolan said she was comfortable with the statewide restrictions already in place. She did say she had concerns about reopening schools. "Given the data that we're hearing, I think it's critical that we look at this very seriously," Dolan said.
