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Today, we are caring for 36 COVID positive inpatients at Mount Nittany Medical Center, ranging in age from 19 to 89.
Since September 1, we have cared for 106 COVID positive inpatients, compared to a total of 15 COVID positive inpatients in September 2020 – more than 7 times the number of patients compared to last year.
Our average daily census of COVID positive inpatients for the week of Sept 11 – 17 was 28 inpatients per day and has spiked to 34 inpatients per day this past week.
Attribute message to Dr. Tiffany Cabibbo, Executive VP Patient Care Services and Chief Nursing Officer
We are alarmed at the escalating rate of COVID positive hospitalizations; averaging 34 inpatients this week compared to an average of 28 the week before. The average age of our COVID positive inpatients is 58 years old.
New COVID-19 Hospital Admissions online dashboard
The vast majority of the COVID positive inpatients are unvaccinated. To provide the community a picture of how the pandemic is affecting Mount Nittany Medical Center and our staff across the system, we have published a COVID-19 dashboard on our website. The dashboard provides vital information about inpatients who are COVID positive and are currently being treated at the Medical Center and the resources that we are using to care for them. The dashboard is updated every weekday at noon and reflects the daily number of patients that we are caring for at that time.
Adjusting Healthcare services at the Medical Center to respond
We are operating under our pandemic response plan to adjust our services to care for COVID positive inpatients as well as those who need us for acute care.
These measures include:
- Daily decisions to cancel or reschedule elective surgeries and procedures that require an overnight stay
- Restricting visitation to No Visitors at our facilities
As the COVID positive admissions increase, it will be necessary to take additional steps to adjust our services to meet the needs of our patients.
Booster Doses
Earlier today, the CDC announced their recommendation for a booster dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine for those who meet the CDC eligibility requirements. To sign up for the booster from Mount Nittany Health, please go to mountnittany.org/COVID.
Of note: Boosters are only approved for those that completed a vaccine series of Pfizer at least six months ago.
Protect Yourself and Others
As a community, and as doctors and nurses on the front lines, we have been fighting the pandemic for more than a year and half now. We strongly urge the community to please get vaccinated, social distance, avoid large gatherings, wear a mask, and wash your hands frequently.
In addition, if you are experiencing any symptoms or have been exposed to someone who is COVID positive, then please isolate yourself from others.
Mount Nittany Health continues to vaccinate our community against COVID 19. To register for a COVID-19 vaccine, please go to mountnittany.org/COVID.
