Cases of COVID-19 are surging in the Northwoods right now.
Health officials fear hospitals and clinic will be over capacity if something isn’t done now to get the virus under control.
“If we don’t take this seriously, we will have more deaths and if people haven’t experienced it as a result of the pandemic yet, they more than likely will before it’s over,” said. Dr. Susan Moore.
Dr. Moore is the Medical Director for Ascension in the north region. She herself has lost a loved one to COVID-19.
“During this pandemic you’re not able to get together with the person that’s in the hospital. You can’t go in and see them. You can’t even travel and get together with your loved ones that all care about this person and console each other, cry together, laugh together, reminisce together. I think that was the hardest thing for me. You don’t get that closure,” said Dr. Moore.
Hospitals in the Northwoods are filling up quickly with COVID-19 patients.
On Friday, Ascension, Aspirus, and Marshfield Clinic issued a rare joint statement urging people to follow public health guidelines.
As of October 1, There were 95 COVID-19 patients hospitalized in the north central region of the state. A month earlier there were 25.
“This is real. It is here now. We are surging. And it is becoming very concerning because we are hitting our high points at the worst possible time because we’re heading into influenza season which already burdens our hospitals every winter with admissions,” said Dr. Moore.
The increase in cases aren’t just impacting hospital capacity.
“It is starting to impact our infrastructure. As people in our communities get sick they’re unable to report to work. If we don’t have adequate staffing in our hospitals, our clinics, fire departments 911, police department,” said Dr. Moore. “Even think about the people that restore our power when it goes out for a storm. We can’t power back for a few days, that has some pretty negative consequences.”
Dr. Moore said we can get the virus under control, but it will take everyone doing their part.
This means staying home, wearing a mask when do you go out, wash your hands, and don’t get together with people outside your household.
“We can’t predict who is going to have a serious disease course or who may die from this, you can’t pick. People who are healthy can get serious symptoms and death from this. But certainly those that are at higher risk will experience it at a higher rate, but the way we protect them is by everybody doing what they can to prevent the disease and taking this seriously,” said Dr. Moore.
