Thoughts of herd immunity still far off as city continues immunizations
Thoughts of herd immunity still far off as city continues immunizations By Michael Cantu | January 19, 2021 at 3:56 PM CST - Updated January 20 at 7:54 AM
LUBBOCK, Texas (KCBD) - With vaccines being slowly distributed in the state and nationally, health experts still encourage social and physical distancing measures.
The key to moving away from the measures is what doctors call herd immunity.
Dr. Victor Test is the chief of pulmonology medicine and critical care at the Texas Tech Health Sciences Center and director of Medical Intensive Care Unit at University Medical Center. He said there may be a need to re-think the term.
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With four people at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital (QEH) testing positive for COVID-19, three of whom are staff, management is appealing to the public not to visit the institution unless absolutely necessary.
Executive chairman Juliette Bynoe-Sutherland and Acting Director of Medical Services Dr Clyde Cave confirmed the cases yesterday, with Cave giving the assurance the situation was under control.
“We have identified four people who have contracted COVID from outside in the community. They have been placed on leave and the areas in which they had worked have been sanitised.
“We have two members of our Medical Intensive Care Unit who tested positive, but all their preliminary contacts have tested negative so far and will be retested; one patient who had been identified after discharge but that situation has also been investigated and tested, and we have one support staff worker who was in indirect contact and that [situation] also has been contained,” he said
Jasmine Demers is a government reporter with the Star. It seems so strange to have to pick my favorite stories from a year where much of my work has been defined by the COVID-19 pandemic and the suffering that came along with it, she says. For that reason, I decided to pick stories that I feel really highlight the widespread impact that this virus has had, and continues to have, on our community.
Here are her favorite pieces of 2020:
Fave Five: Family of Tucson s first fatal COVID-19 case: I want her death to mean something
One of my favorite things about being a journalist is being able to connect with people and having the honor of telling their stories. This was one of the most difficult stories Iâve ever had to write, but I was so grateful that this family trusted me enough to do so during such an incredibly sad and vulnerable time for them. Iâm hoping that everyone who reads this story is reminded that COVID-19 cases and fatalities are so much more than jus
Within four hours of receiving the vaccine, the first 30 staffers received it.
“We are pleased to share the news that we have received a shipment of COVID-19 vaccines at our facility,” GRMC Chief Executive Officer Justin Bryant said. “Prevention is key since there is no cure for COVID-19. Vaccination is an important step in helping to prevent this illness and its potentially devastating consequences, he said. We are honored to have such an early opportunity to provide the next barrier of defense against this virus.”
Jessica Pitcock, director of the Medical Intensive Care Unit at Gadsden Regional, was the first employee to receive the vaccine. The MICU currently houses COVID positive patients at Gadsden Regional.
Local ICU nurse shares her pandemic story
Local ICU nurse shares her pandemic story By Bria Bolden | December 23, 2020 at 11:25 PM EST - Updated December 23 at 11:33 PM
SAVANNAH, Ga. (WTOC) - Healthcare workers have been at the forefront of the pandemic since it began.
As we prepare for the remainder of the holiday season they want us to stay vigilant and continue to take precautions.
A nurse who cared for and treated some of Georgia’s first COVID positive patients shared her story on being on the frontlines of the pandemic.
“I feel like I am on the front lines, but I am also on the front lines of history,” said Emily O’Connor, Registered Nurse for the Medical Intensive Care Unit at Emory Healthcare.