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I'm really not sure, but I have had a few calls with a distressed friend over the past two weeks. She is beyond frustrated with Covid, how it is handled, and how it is reported. She feels that it is masking a lot of other issues. I'll give some background and the conversation. https://twitter.com/AnnRudbeck/status/1334543409160175620
Numbers in her location are supposedly at dangerous levels. Media was reporting before Thanksgiving that hospitals in the area were full and 'special access' was given to local news crews for several stories on the Covid crisis. This friend works at one of the hospitals covered.
Then a large national network aired their own segment on her hospital. That story said that last week her hospital was doubling up patients in ICU rooms because they were out of space and that this week they have space because so many have died that there is now room. Response:
"Amanda, our morgue holds 5 patients. Max. That's not a lot IMO. One has been there since September because we haven't found family. We do have a trailer now for extra bodies. People are still dying of other issues, not covid."
"Every company is backed up...including the entire process of getting bodies to the funeral home and such. Numbers are increasing? Is it because we are more aware? Is it because we are differentiating what is considered positive-history? Active? Etc?!"
"I can tell you testing isn't accurate...they are just saying a positive is a positive. Whether or not the person is exhibiting symptoms or is actively fighting the virus or had it before which is why they are positive. Like WTM?"
Pausing to add this: there have been conversations in other areas regarding the concern she raised of previously positive patients continuing to test positive and how to handle those patients:
Ok, back to our conversation: "Again, not discounting the super sick, but our ICU was down yesterday. Out of 10 patients in the ICU 7 were vented. That's not doubling up each room or being maxed out. Do you see what I'm saying?"
"More patients are on the floors....again....not very sick and I believe are in for other health issues, but Covid is masking everything. I think ICU nurses are burnt out and beds are tight, but it doesn't seem any different than any other year during this time."
"Out of the five deaths on Tuesday...two were not Covid related. One was an MVC and one was HIV/AIDS (had been in our facility for three months)".
