Phoenix hospital urges residents to be vigilant amid spike in virus cases
Jun 8, 2020, 4:25 AM
(AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
(AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
PHOENIX — One Valley hospital is urging the public to remain vigilant and practice safe behaviors to prevent additional coronavirus cases and deaths in the state as Arizona surpasses 1,000 coronavirus deaths.
Dr. Michael White, chief medical officer of Valleywise Health in Phoenix, believes the state is back to where it was in March when it comes to handling coronavirus cases.
“We are going to have to go back to those basics,” White said after Arizona saw a dramatic rise in COVID-19 cases this week.
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White believes the uptick in cases has shown the risks of the pandemic in the community have not disappeared.
Numbers starkly demonstrate COVID-19 continues to remain a serious threat to public health. The five highest daily number of new cases reported have come in the last six days, with the most ever in a daily update being over 1,500 on Friday.
Dr. White believes these waves of coronavirus cases could continue until we get a vaccine. During a press conference outside of the Phoenix-based hospital Friday, he reported the hospital to be at 80% capacity.
BACK TO THE BASICS: As we return to normal life, Chief Medical Officer with @valleywise_az Dr. Michael White says they have made the necessary adjustments to ensure hospital capacity to deal with outbreaks. @KTAR923 pic.twitter.com/zENE0IhYRR
— Ali Vetnar (@Ali_Vetnar) June 5, 2020
“The 80 to 90% range is higher than we usually run, so that means if we continue on that trajectory it does put us at a risk that we will have limited resources,” White added.
Now more than ever, Valleywise Health believes Arizona residents need to get back to the basics when it comes to monitoring themselves and choosing safe behaviors.
Including these key ways:
- Wear a mask when you’re in public near others.
- Stay six feet away from others.
- Wash your hands frequently.
- Wipe down surfaces that may be infected.
- Do not leave your home if you are ill, except to receive medical care.
As fear has continues to linger among Arizonans about potentially contracting the virus, Valleywise Health is asking resident to do all they can to decrease their likelihood of transmitting COVID-19.
“We continue to care for COVID-19 patients and ask that you continue practicing safe behaviors that have been proven to help prevent the spread of the virus so that we will have capacity tomorrow,” White said.
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