North Oaks Health System’s Chief Medical Officer Dr. Robert Peltier says that Tangipahoa Parish is experiencing a significant increase in the number of patients being hospitalized with COVID-related illnesses.
He said that on Monday North Oaks had more in-patient COVID cases than any other hospital in the state. North Oaks had 44 hospitalized with COVID on Monday and 41 in-patient COVID cases on Tuesday.
Peltier said all of the their recent ICU cases and local deaths have involved patients who are not yet vaccinated against COVID.
Peltier acknowledged patient concerns about the longterm effects of the vaccines. However, he said patients also should consider the possibility of good side effects from taking the shots. He said those who suffer severe cases of COVID are facing problems they’ll keep the rest of their lives, pointing specifically to lung and breathing issues that last long after patients have recovered.
