COVID Hospitalizations Surging over Geisinger Service Area

DANVILLE – The number of COVID-19 hospitalizations across the Geisinger service area is surging and the worst is yet to come. That message came Friday from Dr. Jaewon Ryu, Geisinger President and CEO.

At a virtual media briefing, Dr. Ryu described “very concerning trends” and said the number of hospitalizations the result of COVID-19 currently is at over 190 and “rapidly climbing.” He said coronavirus-related admissions have been increasing steadily since Nov. 9 and are “picking up steam.” The better than 190 hospitalizations compares to a previous high of 130 patients in late April and early May. He called the trend “unprecedented,” blowing past what was seen in the spring.

The positive case test result is also climbing rapidly, citing what he called “community spread.” The percentage was at 28 percent in April, then ebbed during warm weather, but now it is at 21 percent. That number had dropped to 3.4 percent in July and as recently as his report on Nov. 13 it was at 9 to 10 percent.

Dr. Ryu said the health community has gotten “a lot better” at treating COVID patients and health professionals have been able to keep their facilities save. He said a community wide focus is needed as part of a continuing mitigation effort. He said Geisinger has “dialed down” some 10 to 15 percent of its elective procedures to free up space to accommodate increased demand from COVID-19. Noting that he has children at home, the Geisinger CEO said as a member of the community, we must all “rally together” to end the virus tide by adhering to precautionary efforts.

His presentation also included a chart to follow with the holidays and winter approaching.