Naval hospitals feeling pressure in San Diego

SAN DIEGO — Like their civilian counterparts, San Diego’s two major military hospitals are taking in a wave of coronavirus patients as the winter surge in cases affects military members, their families and retirees.

At Naval Medical Center San Diego, its 16 intensive care unit beds are at 70% capacity, and Naval Hospital Camp Pendleton’s four ICU beds are at 75%.

“While our team is busy, the ICUs are not full,” said Regena Kowitz, a spokeswoman for Navy Medical Forces Pacific. Kowitz said both sites have plans to increase patient capacity if necessary.

Front- line military healthcare providers at both hospitals told the San Diego Union- Tribune on Friday that coronavirus cases in the communities they serve, just like in Greater San Diego, have surged in recent weeks.

“The majority of people say they believe they got it from someone close to them, like their significant other,” Ensign Samantha Salus, a nurse in the COVID- 19 ward at Naval Medical Center San Diego, said during an interview Friday. “Just like our civilian counterparts, we’re seeing an inf lux of patients.”

Hospital Corpsman 2nd Class Christopher Pruitt is a supervisor for the COVID- 19 and Flu Clinic at Naval Hospital Camp Pendleton, which he said has tents set up near the emergency room to screen patients and test for the coronavirus.

Pruitt said he also has seen a “large increase” in coronavirus patients in the last several weeks, which has led to medical staff in the clinic working longer hours and extra days.

“As a hospital, we had to create a new department — a new clinic,” he said, adding that his patients reported being exposed at work or where they’ve recently traveled.

How widespread is the coronavirus among the military community in San Diego? It’s difficult to say.

The Pentagon releases total numbers of virus cases in the military by branch, but it does not disclose any geographic data. The Navy provides weekly updates, so it’s possible to track the total number of Navy cases worldwide.

So far more than 6,000 sailors have tested positive for the virus since the beginning of November, according to the Navy’s published numbers.

The Navy reported 2,980 active cases as of Wednesday, with eight sailors hospitalized.

One in six active- duty Navy sailors are based in San Diego County, according to a 2019 study. Applying that ratio to the service’s total active cases suggests about 500 San Diego sailors could be positive for the virus.

Leaders in the Navy medical community lauded front- line healthcare workers in statements Friday.

“Our front- line medical personnel have put forth a tremendous effort to meet the mission during these unprecedented times, and it has certainly placed a strain on them, but they are resilient, and their commands and the region are ensuring they are getting the support they need,” said Rear Adm. Tim Weber, commander of Naval Medical Forces Pacific.

Capt. Shelly Perkins, director of Naval Hospital Camp Pendleton, acknowledged the difficulties the staff has encountered throughout the pandemic.

“This has been a difficult year for everyone, across the military and our nation, and the exceptional staff here at Naval Hospital Camp Pendleton has risen to the challenge,” Perkins said in a statement. “The military has taught us to stay ready and be sharp so that we can adapt to changing situations.”

Capt. Bradford Smith, commanding officer of Naval Medical Center San Diego, said the work of the hospital staff has helped the f leet stay operational amid the pandemic.

Both hospitals will be among the f irst in the military to receive doses of Pfizer’s new COVID- 19 vaccine, the Defense Department said Wednesday. The f irst doses could arrive as early as this week, said Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar.

In the military — as in the civilian world — the f irst in line to receive vaccines will be healthcare providers, support personnel and residents of long- term care facilities, Thomas McCaffery, assistant secretary of Defense, said at a Wednesday news conference.

Service members engaged in essential national security and installation functions and military beneficiaries at high risk of developing severe illness from COVID- 19 also will get vaccines before other members of the services, according to a Pentagon news release.