Everything you need to know to stay COVID-safe during a second pandemic winterSpotlight PA

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HARRISBURG – Coronavirus cases and hospitalizations are on the rise, and hospital officials say Pennsylvania could be on track for another tough winter as unvaccinated patients fill hospital beds across the state .

“We are bracing for a worse Christmas than last year because people are not staying at home this year,” said Gerald Maloney, chief medical officer of hospital services at Geisinger Health System, a provider that serves the center and eastern Pennsylvania.

Without masks and physical distancing rules, which were in regular use last year before vaccines became available – and which have helped curb other respiratory illnesses – the coronavirus is likely to spread easily in spaces that bring together people. people and lack good ventilation.

In addition to these concerns, Maloney said, Geisinger is also seeing an increase in influenza cases compared to last year.

“Last year we talked about the possibility of what we called a ‘twindemic’, where there could be another covid pandemic and an influenza epidemic combined, so that’s a real possibility this year,” did he declare.

As the vacation begins, here’s what you need to know about Pennsylvania’s COVID-19 status:

Cases and hospitalizations continue to increase

Pennsylvania’s COVID-19 cases increased throughout the fall as the weather cooled and people began to spend more time indoors. At the same time, the highly contagious delta variant – which appeared earlier this year – has led to an increase in infections.

Delta Still Primary Source of COVID-19 Cases in Pennsylvania, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Says early December data, although some cases of the omicron variant have been detected since its inception first reported in Philadelphia earlier this month.

Coronavirus vaccines help mitigate the increase in infections, said John Goldman, infectious disease specialist at UPMC. As providers see groundbreaking cases, vaccines help keep most people vaccinated out of hospital.

State-wide data published Tuesday by the Ministry of Health show that in the month to December 6, about 23% of COVID-19 hospitalizations were in people who were fully vaccinated.

Unlike last year, when vaccines weren’t available, the state’s oldest and most vulnerable residents aren’t the ones filling hospital beds.

Instead, younger, unvaccinated people between the ages of 45 and 60 make up the bulk of COVID-19 patients.

In many cases, the only underlying health issue for these young patients is being overweight, Goldman said. At UPMC, around 95% of intensive care patients are not vaccinated.

At Geisinger facilities, about 88% of COVID-19 hospital patients are unvaccinated, Maloney said.

The steadily rising cases and accompanying hospitalizations have strained state hospitals for weeks. The flare is affecting all patients, not just people with COVID-19, hospital officials say.

“People with heart attacks, strokes, people who become seriously ill for reasons unrelated to COVID, trauma,” said Maloney. “People are on the roads again, and they’re climbing ladders and things like that again. There is collateral damage for all of these people created by the health system being cluttered with COVID patients. “

Geisinger’s facilities have reduced surgeries and transfer demands from small rural hospitals which typically rely on the larger healthcare system to help treat critically ill patients.

“We can’t do heart surgery on a patient if we don’t have an intensive care bed to put them in after surgery,” he said.

Governor Tom Wolf on Wednesday requested personnel support from the Federal Emergency Management Agency, or FEMA, for health facilities in the state.

Citing statewide staff shortages, Wolf called on FEMA to provide clinical and non-clinical staff support to hospitals and nursing homes, as well as ambulance services.

He also asked FEMA to provide a million rapid home COVID-19 tests.

A spokesperson for the governor’s office said more details on how residents can access home testing will be available once FEMA confirms the request.

How to stay safe for the holidays

Medical officials in health systems statewide are sending the same message: If you’re planning to get together for the holidays, get vaccinated.

“The first thing to do is get vaccinated,” Goldman said. “If you are vaccinated you should be boosted. “

Anyone who has completed a first round of vaccination is considered fully vaccinated, he said. But getting a third hit offers higher levels of protection, he added.

Anyone aged 16 and over is eligible for a recall. Guidelines for choosing a booster are available from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website.

You don’t have to go back to the same place where you received your first or second hit for your booster. Find locations offering COVID-19 vaccines near you on the CDC’s website at vaccins.gov. If you are traveling, the site can also be used to find vaccines nationwide.

CDC now recommends choosing Pfizer or Moderna vaccines over Johnson & Johnson vaccine, a change described in the guidelines released thursday.

The notice comes months after Pennsylvania and other states suspension of the distribution of the J&J vaccine due to reports of rare, but serious blood clots. These incidents remain rare, but other cases have occurred since the spring. Since the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines are now widely available, the CDC’s committee looking at the vaccine’s safety and effectiveness decided they were the best option.

The J&J vaccine will still be available to anyone who wants it or who cannot receive the Pfizer or Moderna injections due to medical conditions.

Then, consider taking a quick test before heading to the airport or a holiday party, especially if you meet people who are not vaccinated. The best time to take a test is the morning of the rally, Goldman said.

“Given the amount of disease activity in our area, I would be cautious of unvaccinated people coming to the family dinner,” Goldman said. “If you have elderly parents or elderly grandparents, you need to think long and hard. “

Finally, if you don’t feel well, even if it looks like a simple cold or allergies, the safest thing to do is stay home, even if you are vaccinated, Goldman said.

Philadelphia Public Health Commissioner Cheryl Bettigole on Wednesday asked residents to consider skipping group meetings. hospitals, and those who will die, I have to say: please don’t get together with other households for Christmas, or if you do, keep these gatherings small, ”Bettigole said in a statement. briefing.

“We are now entering what could be the most dangerous period since last winter,” she said.

Official mandates and mitigation efforts vary

Wolf said in several interviews Tuesday that it is not considering any new COVID-19 mitigation measures statewide.

“The vaccine is our strategy,” he said. told KDKA Radio Tuesday. “But I think local municipalities should be free to do whatever they want.”

Wolf noted that hospitals are inundated across Pennsylvania and particularly in the northeastern part of the state, and municipalities are responding based on local conditions.

In Philadelphia, proof of full vaccination or a negative COVID-19 test will be required for anyone dining out from January 3, the city’s health department announced Monday. After a two-week grace period, starting January 17, restaurants will only accept proof of vaccination for admission.

The mandate applies to all indoor dining spaces, including bars, gyms, cinemas and casinos that allow food or drink on the floor.

The Allegheny County Health Department, which includes Pittsburgh, is not considering a similar mandate, a county spokesperson said on Monday. additional mitigation measures beyond those currently in place.

A state health department order requiring masks in all schools and daycares that were initially to remain in place until mid-January was overturned by the Pennsylvania Supreme Court on December 9.

The high court upheld a Commonwealth Court ruling who had previously ruled that the health secretary did not have the authority to issue the prescription.

The decision quickly took effect. Since last Monday, school officials have been allowed to decide whether they will continue to require masks in school buildings.

Wolf tell WESA that the decision did not prompt the resignation of Acting Health Secretary Alison Beam, who was announced Monday.

Beam had held the post since last January, when she took over from pediatrician Rachel Levine, who left the post after being appointed to a post in the Biden administration.

Beam will be replaced at the end of December by Keara Klinepeter, who currently serves as deputy executive secretary in the state health department.

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