Take the turkey outside this year
CDC suggests al fresco meal
As the second surge of coronavirus cases slams Massachusetts, hospital front-line workers are seeing a steady rise of virus patients — as officials hope they don’t hit a “tipping point” in the weeks and months ahead.
Massachusetts hospital officials on Wednesday said they’re seeing a steady climb in coronavirus patients as statewide cases rise to levels not seen since the spring.
The number of COVID-19 patients in Bay State hospitals has more than doubled from a low of 285 over the summer to 659 as of Wednesday. Two weeks ago, there were 393 COVID-19 patients in Massachusetts hospitals.
Coronavirus hospitalizations across the Mass General Brigham system have about tripled since late summer, said Paul Biddinger, director of Emergency Preparedness at Mass General Brigham. There are now about 120 COVID-19 patients across the hospital system.
“The number is increasing, but not increasing nearly as quickly as in the spring,” he said, adding, “A concern we have is from the recent European experience, which shows hospitalizations can rise slowly and reach a tipping point.”
Todd Ellerin, director of infectious diseases at South Shore Health, said they’re seeing a slow increase in patients.
“The trajectory is concerning given the number of cases and the fact that we have a long winter ahead of us,” he said. “People are spending more time indoors, where we know the virus is transmitted much more easily.”
As Thanksgiving approaches and cases rise, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention this week advised people to celebrate the holiday outside and with a mask.
“We know that most dangerous settings for COVID transmission are indoor, crowded spaces while people are eating,” said Paul Sax, clinical director of the division of infectious disease at Brigham and Women’s Hospital.
The lowest risk Thanksgiving plans include having dinner with members of your household and watching parades and sports from home, according to the CDC.
“With Thanksgiving and Christmas coming, it can be a perfect storm for more cases, hospitalizations and deaths,” Ellerin said.
Gov. Charlie Baker on Tuesday said the state is “once again” planning to stand up field hospitals as the number of hospitalizations rise. The state opened field hospitals at the DCU Center in Worcester, the Boston Convention & Exhibition Center in the Seaport and at Joint Base Cape Cod during the spring surge.
Worcester’s UMass Memorial Medical Center announced on Tuesday that it’s now banning visitors to the University Campus emergency department due to a rise in coronavirus hospitalizations. Leaders at the hospital — which has seen a doubling of patients in the past month — said they made the decision to maintain social distancing for the safety of patients and staff. Other hospitals have made similar decisions due to the virus.