ST. LOUIS (KMOX)-Despite an increase in new hospitalizations, the number of covied-19 confirmed patients in metropolitan pandemic task force hospials is continuing to decline.
The number of new hospitalizations went from 68 Friday to 80 Saturday, but there are 39 fewer confirmed covid patients listed Saturday. That number fell from 613 Friday to 572 Saturday. Meanwhile, the number of suspected covid patients increased from 42 to 60.
There are five more patients in ICUs (120 to 125), the same number on ventilators (82) and there were 12 deaths for a second straight day.
"We are, of course, very glad to see the number of hospitalizations and deaths declining and we're hoping and praying that this will continue," says Task Force Incident Commander Dr. Alex Garza. "The important to remember is that while these numbers are declining they're declining from a very high peak so, we still have a way to go."
Meanwhile, Garza says just under 100,000 doses of coronavirus vaccine have been administered to front line healthcare workers in task force hospitals. That means about 63% of them have received at least one dose. He says inconsistent shipments of the vaccine are still causing problems. He says some weeks they get a significant about of vaccines, while in other weeks, they don't receive any. "That's what makes it somewhat challenging for us to figure out how much can we vaccinate on any given week," he says. "Then how can we schedule people to come in and get vaccinated on any given week."
On Friday, Garza noted the anniversary of the first confirmed COVID-19 case in the U.S. "The enormity of the loss we have experienced this year, is impossible to express," he said." Especially for those who have lost loved ones and for healthcare workers who have cared for covid patients and witnessed these deaths"
