The recent rise in COVID-19 cases across Northeast Georgia has area hospital officials concerned: so much so that medical professionals from the region’s largest healthcare system on Monday held a press conference to appeal directly to the public about taking steps to help mitigate this developing fourth wave.
“We know there are many mixed thoughts and opinions about COVID in our community, state and the nation. We know many people are tired of hearing about it, talking about or feeling the impact of decisions about masking and distancing,” said Northeast Georgia Health System’s Chief of Medical Staff Dr. Deepak Aggarwal. “We understand. We are tired too.”
“If you wait until you end up in the hospital to get the vaccine, then it’s too late.” Dr. Erine Raybon-Rojas
Rising numbers and concern
Despite their weariness, local health professionals are again bracing for another surge. Aggarwal pointed to four key data points that illustrate the current COVID landscape in Northeast Georgia.
As the region’s largest healthcare provider, NGHS has hospitals in Gainesville, Braselton, Winder, and Dahlonega. Compiling data from those facilities, the chief of staff says COVID hospitalizations and positivity rates are at their highest since February.
As of Monday, August 2, 110 COVID-positive patients were being treated in NGHS facilities, up from 20 just two weeks ago.
Test positivity rates across the region have doubled since mid-July. Figures from the Georgia Department of Public Health show that, as of August 2, Hall County’s positivity rate was 11.4%, Habersham’s was 13.3%, Stephens County’s was 17%, and White County’s was 17.2% — the highest in the region.
Currently, the average age of COVID-positive patients in NGHS hospitals is 60, meaning roughly half of all patients are under 60.
“We have cared from some as young as 18 in the past two weeks,” said Aggarwal.
The chief of staff also pointed out that 85% of the COVID-positive patients now being treated are not vaccinated.
“Right now, the most important decision before us is the choice to get vaccinated,” stressed critical care physician Dr. Erine Raybon-Rojas during Monday’s press conference. “It’s a deeply important and emotional decision that brings a lot of opinions and emotions. We recognize those feelings and encourage you to spend time focusing on the data and the numbers.”
“Getting vaccinated will not guarantee you that you won’t get COVID, but the key thing is that getting vaccinated protects you against severe infection, reducing the chance that you will die from COVID or be hospitalized from COVID,” she added.
According to Dr. Raybon-Rojas, the lowest vaccination rates are among adults under 65.
“If you wait until you end up in the hospital to get the vaccine, then it’s too late.”
‘They don’t know if they can take another surge’
With another surge looming, that sense of exhaustion Dr. Aggarwal spoke of looms large. The strain of the pandemic is driving many medical professionals out of the field.
“We are already seeing many workers make the difficult decision to leave healthcare either because of their own mental, emotional health or just because they don’t think they can do it. The new people we’re seeing entering these healthcare professions are burning out quickly,” said NGHS Executive Director of Medical Nursing Elizabeth Larkins. Overcome with emotion, she added, “Many of them tell me they don’t know if they can take another surge.”
Healthcare worker turnover has taken its toll. Larkins says Northeast Georgia Health System is currently looking “for about 550 RNs that we don’t have right now.”
NGHS got an extension on the mobile medical unit installed on its Gainesville campus last year, and Aggarwal says there are patients in it. He expects the current surge will peak in September, but a lot can change between now and then, especially as children head back to school.
“If you are not concerned for yourself enough to get the vaccine, I’m asking you to please do it for the people in your life who you love. Do it for our healthcare workers. Do it for your community.” Elizabeth Larkins, RN
The CDC has recommended that all students in grades K-12 wear masks. And while school systems in some parts of the state require them, neither Hall County nor any of the immediate surrounding counties are mandating masks in schools.
“That’s something we are going to have a conversation about with the school county systems,” Aggarwal said.
He and his colleagues hope that by opening the community’s eyes to what is happening and what is at stake — and leading by example — they can convince some vaccine reluctant people to change their stance.
Said Larkins, “If you are not concerned for yourself enough to get the vaccine, I’m asking you to please do it for the people in your life who you love. Do it for our healthcare workers. Do it for your community.”
The COVID-19 vaccine is free and readily available through NGHS and other healthcare providers, pharmacies, and grocery stores. To find a vaccine provider near you, visit vaccines.gov.
For updated COVID data visit nghs.com or the Georgia Department of Health Daily Status Report online.
