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Midafternoon, one of the three intensive care patients assigned to nurse Jim Hayes was doing well enough that they were ready to transfer to a room with a lower level of care. But that did not mean there would be much time with the other two patients.
“Within another hour and a half or so, I’ll get an admission,” Hayes said. “There are five people in the ER right now who are waiting to come up here, and there are no beds.”
This moment, he said Thursday afternoon, can be the most dangerous.
His full attention would soon be required to admit his next patient, making sure that intravenous lines, electronic monitors, perhaps even a breathing machine called a ventilator, were all functioning toward the goal of stabilizing a patient’s deteriorating medical condition. His other two patients one more than state nursing ratios usually allow would temporarily get less of his immediate attention.
The variant jumps from person to person more easily, so if you re exposed, your chances of infection are higher.
Strict masking and social distancing are still the best means of protection against the variant.
A new, more transmissible strain of coronavirus that was first identified in the UK has spread to more than 32 other countries, including the US.
The strain, called B.1.1.7., has several
mutations in the genetic code for its spike protein, which the virus uses to invade cells. These tweaks may make it easier for the variant to infect people.
A preliminary study suggests the strain is about 56% more contagious than the original virus that emerged in China. UK government officials previously estimated that the variant could be up to 70% more transmissible. Either way, experts say, it can be thwarted in the same way as the original virus: strict mask wearing and social distancing.
White House COVID testing czar says ALL Americans will get the vaccine by June and is confident the super-infectious UK strain is no more dangerous
White House coronavirus testing czar Admiral Brett Giroir says he s confident all Americans will be inoculated by late June We still expect that any American who wants a vaccine can be vaccinated by June. That’s really very exciting, he said on Fox News Sunday
He added that the vaccine is effective against the new mutant strain that emerged in the United Kingdom
He said the US will reach the end of the pandemic when 70 to 80 percent of the population has either been vaccinated or previously infected
Hispanic doctor encouraging vaccinations in his San Diego community
Hispanic and Latinos are most at risk for COVID-19 with the highest number of deaths, hospitalizations and positive cases. Author: Abbie Alford (Reporter) Updated: 11:26 PM PST December 21, 2020
CHULA VISTA, Calif. A local Hispanic doctor who was among the first to get the COVID-19 vaccine in San Diego County is encouraging patients in his community to trust science.
More Hispanics and Latinos are dying from the virus than other ethnic group in the county for a number of complex reasons, including pre-existing conditions, fear of doctors and access to healthcare.
“I m very excited to portray and this is an honor of being a Mexican physician that carried the flag,” said Dr. Andres Smith of Sharp Chula Vista E.R. Director.