The number of people hospitalized with COVID-19 related complications continues to rise in the western part of the state.
363 people were hospitalized in the health department’s Near Southwest region. That includes hospitals in Roanoke, Lynchburg, Danville, Martinsville and parts of the New River Valley.
A week ago, that figure was 305. The number of patients in Intensive Care (83) and on ventilators (44) also increased.
Statewide, 2,586 people were hospitalized with confirmed or pending COVID-19 diagnoses Wednesday, according to the Virginia Hospital and Healthcare Association dashboard. That's the highest number since the pandemic began and about a thousand more than one month ago.
Beginning Saturday, Centra Health will reduce the number of visitors it allows into its Lynchburg area hospitals. Carilion Clinic in Roanoke and VCU Health in Richmond announced similar restrictions earlier in the week.
Ballad Health Extends Pause on Elective Procedures
The hospital system the serves parts of southwest Virginia and northeast Tennessee has extended its pause on elective and non-emergency procedures. Ballad Health says the pause will stay in effect at least until January 15th because of the strain caused by large numbers of hospitalized COVID-19 patients.
Ballad set a new daily high with 335 patients on Monday.
But the hospital system has also been able to maintain some capacity by instituting a program called Safe at Home, according to Dr. Clay Runnels. "We use telehealth to follow them at home and we discharge them with oxygen concentrators and pulse oximeters so they can monitor themselves. So it’s basically a care at home model and that’s been very successful in helping us reduce those borderline admissions," Runnels said during a Wednesday news conference. About 250 people have been treated through the program over the past few weeks.
Ballad officials say they continue to be concerned that a post-holiday surge of COVID-19 patients could further stress its capacity. About 94% of Ballad's ICU beds were in use as of Wednesday morning. More than 220 employees are isolated or quarantined because of a COVID-19 diagnosis or exposure.
Health Districts Begin Vaccinating Paramedics and EMTs
The New River Health District received its first doses of the Moderna vaccine Wednesday morning. Dr. Noelle Bissell, the district's health director, said the first shipment contained 600 doses. She planned to begin vaccinating EMTs immediately.
The Roanoke City-Alleghany Health District received its first shipment of Moderna vaccine Tuesday. Officials there held a mass vaccination event Wednesday and gave shots to some 300 EMS workers.
The Virginia Department of Health has added vaccine information to its data dashboard. The dashboard shows nearly 20,000 people in Virginia have already received at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine, as of Wednesday morning.
