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Lee Health officials are reporting a "plateau" and not a decline of COVID-19 patients in their hospitals. Officials said the number of hospitalized patients is hovering between 250-280 patients per day.
"Lee Health is not experiencing a steep decline in COVID patients as has happened in previous surges," said Lee Health spokesperson Jonathon Little in an email. "This is resulting in continued occupancy rates of more than 90% in our hospitals. The health system is averaging four COVID deaths per day since hospitalizations peaked two weeks ago, with eight patient deaths from COVID since Friday. We remind the community to continue to take precautions to minimize exposure to the coronavirus."
By the Numbers
As of Tuesday morning, there were 255 COVID-19 patients isolated at Lee Health inpatient hospitals. Of those patients, five are being treated at Golisano Children's Hospital.
As of Tuesday morning, hospital census was at 94% of staffed operational bed capacity. Staffed operational capacity reflects the number of beds for which the hospital has adequate staffing, not the total number of beds within Lee Health hospitals. Overall bed capacity fluctuates hour to hour as the system discharges patients throughout the day who are ready to go home. Census in the intensive care unit was at 94% of staffed operational bed capacity on Tuesday. There were 38 COVID-19 patients in the ICU.
On Monday, Lee Health emergency departments saw 914 patients.
Officials added that Lee TeleHealth is currently free and an easy alternative to avoid longer than normal wait times at urgent care centers.
Lee Health is making this service free for community members so they can utilize urgent care telehealth services from the comfort of their homes. This option allows anyone with non-life-threatening COVID-19 symptoms to avoid long COVID-19 testing lines, Lee Convenient Care locations and the emergency department. Lee Health emergency departments are not designated COVID-19 testing locations. The normal cost of a visit is $49.
"Lee TeleHealth is an on-demand medical service that connects patients directly with a physician or advanced provider and is available 24/7," officials said. "All you need to use Lee TeleHealth is a smartphone, tablet or a computer with a webcam."
To access Lee Telehealth, download the Lee Health app or visit www.LeeTelehealth.org.
-- Connect with this reporter on Twitter: @haddad_cj