Geisinger Chief Expresses Concern on Increase in COVID-19 Cases, Hospitalizations
DANVILLE – With a spike in COVID-19 cases in central Pennsylvania and across the state, Dr. Jaewon Ryu, Geisinger President and CEO, on Friday provided a media update on the virus’s impact across the health care provider’s service area.
He said since early September there has been a steady up-tick in cases that he described as “very concerning.” He called on the community to remain “super vigilant” in managing the increase, given the approaching flu season, the holidays, and cold weather.
Dr. Ryu said, “I don’t know that we’ve turned the corner…as indicators are climbing,” urging that precautionary efforts be continued, from social distancing to hand washing to mask-wearing.
Across the Geisinger service area, he said, positive case results are increasing, from 3.4 percent in July and August to 6.3 percent for September and October and, most recently, 9 to 10 percent. Hospitalizations are also on the increase, from an average of 10 to 30 over the summer to 80 to 90 cases of late.
He said it is not just the elderly susceptible to COVID. 41 percent of those testing positively are under the age of 65, that “plenty of young people are getting afflicted.” A larger concern with the younger people, he said, is they can easily spread the virus. He did say the medical community’s treatment response has gotten better, citing much improved mortality rates, but cautioned that treatments are not fool-proof, that COVID “is a very humbling virus.”
The Geisinger CEO said he believes that vaccines under development will be effective, likely available around the first of the new year but said it will take months, throughout most of next year, to get the vaccine into the hands of the public.