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COVID cases nearly quadruple from July to August within MHP system

Shelby County continues to deal with the COVID-19 pandemic.

Major Health Partners released its most recent data Monday which included Shelby County’s COVID positivity rate at 10.34%.

The Delta variant represents 97% of Indiana’s new COVID cases. In July, MHP had 67 patients test positive for COVID throughout the system. In August, there have been 232 patients test positive across the system and 19% of those patients were vaccinated. Eighty-one percent of MHP’s COVID-positive patients were unvaccinated.

Walk-in volumes remain double the expected norms for this time of the year. The vast majority of patients are presenting with respiratory systems.

The Emergency Department is averaging 78 patients per 24-hour period, which is approximately 10-15 patients higher than expected volumes. Many of these patients, according to MHP, are critical patients and ESI patients. Emergency Severity Index (ESI) is a five-level emergency department triage algorithm, representing the acuity level of the patient.

The hospital has 40 inpatients on the third floor and six inpatients in the ACC unit. Eight of the 46 inpatients are on vents. Fifteen of the 46 are COVID positive.

Staffing remains an issue because vented patients are requiring 5-6 critical care nurses per shift. Respiratory therapy staffing is an issue as well given the high volume of vented patients.

MHP currently has a large supply of the send-out COVID tests. Rapid tests continue to be in short supply. The rapid antigen testing supplies are on allocation as well.

MHP is following the latest guidance from the Centers for Disease Control, SDOH and OSHA. All entrants will be given a surgical mask or medical grade mask upon entry into the hospital. Cloth masks are no longer permissible, which is an OSHA requirement.

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