COVID-19 Hospitalizations Reach Similar Figures to January in El Paso County; may impact scheduled surgeries

EL PASO COUNTY, Colo. (KKTV) – El Paso County Public Health reports that the capacity of regional hospitals is under strain as they experience a surge of COVID-19 patients.

On Thursday, the health agency announced that regional hospital capacity will drop from “orange-red” level to “orange-red” level on the data dashboard. Click here to visit the data dashboard. Below the “Orange-Red” level, hospital capacity is strained, potentially limiting surgeries and procedures. This current level also means that hospitals are experiencing “resource limits”.

“UCHealth hospitals in the Pikes Peak area continue to see record numbers of patients requiring care for COVID and other health issues. This morning, our area hospitals were treating 90 patients with COVID – a number not seen since early January, ”said Dr. David Steinbruner, Chief Medical Officer of UCHealth Memorial. “This is extremely worrying given that we are also about to enter flu season. Sadly, COVID continues to be a hidden, silent pandemic that most people don’t see unless it affects a family member or loved one requiring hospitalization. But it is real, and it weighs on our hospitals and our staff. There are countless stories elsewhere in the country of people not getting the care they need because hospitals are overloaded with COVID cases. Across the country, COVID is impacting patients who need care for other urgent and life-threatening conditions, such as stroke or heart failure. We don’t want it to get to that point in Colorado. I urge everyone: please get your COVID and flu shot. “

As of Thursday, El Paso County’s vaccination rates were 67.8% of eligible residents who received at least one dose, with 61% fully vaccinated. El Paso County ranks among the last in terms of lowest vaccination rates compared to Colorado’s 10 most populous counties.

“In our county and in Colorado, our hospitals have been extremely busy caring for anyone who needs our services. The continued increase in the number of patients with COVID-19, approximately 90% of whom are unvaccinated, along with other acute medical / surgical needs have strained our resources. As such, we had to keep patients on the medical floors. We have also started to postpone surgeries that can reasonably be expected. We are so grateful to our amazing caregivers who have consistently gone above and beyond during these trying times, ”said Dr. William Plauth, Chief Medical Officer of Penrose Hospital and St. Francis Hospital. “The vast majority of our COVID-19 patients are not vaccinated. We continue to encourage all members of our communities to get vaccinated against COVID-19. Vaccines are safe and effective and are the best way to avoid getting infected with COVID-19 and passing it on to others. “

For more information on where you can get a COVID-19 vaccine in El Paso County, click here.

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