Facing a recent, single-day record of nearly 7,000 new COVID-19 cases in Louisiana, hospital leaders across the Northshore have once again united in pleading with residents to slow the spread within the community. Even amid the rollout of vaccines, the group advised that practices such as wearing masks, social distancing and isolating when ill are the most effective ways to protect each other.
Hiral Patel, CEO at Lakeview Regional Medical Center, say the effects from gatherings over Christmas and New Year’s Eve are starting to come in. Over the last several days, local hospitals have experienced an influx of patients needing hospital care, including an increase in COVID patients. Michele Kidd Sutton, President/Chief Executive Officer at North Oaks Health System says that the recent increase in COVID patients strains overall capacity across the region, but that Northshore hospitals currently have sufficient bed capacity, equipment and staff resources to manage both COVID and non-COVID needs safely. Our Lady of the Angels Hospital President Rene J. Ragas says mitigation tactics should include covering your mouth and nose in public, avoiding crowds, and keeping your distance from people who don’t live in your household. John Herman, CEO for Ochsner Health-Northshore Region, says as soon as you qualify, schedule your vaccination because the sooner we reach 70% of our population, the sooner we can see an end to this worldwide pandemic. Slidell Memorial Hospital & Ochsner Medical Center Northshore Chief Executive Officer Sandy Badinger says patients should refer to the Louisiana Department of Health website for information on how and where to get the vaccine.