Spectrum Health Lakeland Struggling With COVID Patients

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hospital-safe-1-45

Berrien County has experienced a roughly 50% increase in COVID-19 cases over the past week. Spectrum Health Lakeland and the Berrien County Health Department gave an update Wednesday with the health department’s Dr. Rex Cabaltica saying the county is seeing about 115 new cases each day. It’s at a percent positivity of 25%, the highest it’s ever been. Spectrum Health Lakeland CEO Loren Hamel said all Spectrum facilities are full.

“We are busting at the seams,” Hamel said. “We have folks in hallways, we have opened up new clinical areas to put patients and waiting areas and beds because we’re so full. Waits in the emergency department have never been longer, and there’s no end in sight.”

Hamel said there’s a staffing shortage and fatigue is at an all time high. He said getting vaccinated against COVID is the best thing to do right now.

“If you are unvaccinated, you are six times more likely to get sick, you’re ten times more likely to go to the hospital, and you’re ten times more likely to die.”

Regarding the new Omicron variant, Hamel said it’s clear it will spread around the world, and he thinks it will lead to another wave. With news that a third Pfizer shot could prevent Omicron infection, he said now is the time to get vaccinated. Cabaltica said parents thinking about getting their kids the shots should now do so, and the best place to go for them is the county health department. Cabaltica also advised everyone to wear masks in public, avoid mass gatherings indoors, and frequently sanitize hands. Both urged vaccination and boosters.