Bayfront Health Port Charlotte closes a COVID-19 unit with cases trending down

Reporter: Erika Jackson Writer: Jack Lowenstein
Published: Updated:
Bayfront Health Port Charlotte. Credit: WINK News.

The number of positive coronavirus cases and hospitalizations are down so much a Southwest Florida hospital is closing one of it COVID-19 units.

The CDC is forecasting a downward trend in COVID-19 deaths. The latest projection shows up to 548,000 deaths by March 20. Last month’s forecast predicted 559,000 deaths by March 13. That new number is smaller and covers a week-longer period than the previous forecast.

Bayfront Health Port Charlotte is seeing this in its own hospital and is ready to make a change, as it plans to shut down a COVID-19 unit to free up space for other care purposes.

Joe Pepe, the administrator for Florida Department of Health in Charlotte County, is feeling good and for good reason.

“What a difference a week makes,” Pepe said. “The current positivity rate is 3.75, which is really great news. We’re seeing that come down a little bit right now.”

Pepe says that decline in cases is making a difference in hospitals.

Bayfront Health Port Charlotte is reverting one of its former COVID-19 units back to a general nursing unit.

“That’s a testament to vaccination and immunity starting to happen,” Pepe said. “You know clearly that’s an effect when you have three to four data points in a row that are in rapid succession, you know, that’s in effect from something.”

People wearing masks and keeping their social distance helps too.

Charlotte County’s goal is to reach people who still avoid the hospital out of fear of the virus.

The message is simple: Come on in. Don’t wait.

“We’re seeing a lot of people coming to the emergency room that are very sick because they haven’t gotten the word that the hospitals are safe,” said Vice Chair Commissioner Dr. Christopher Constance of Charlotte County Board of County Commissioners.

Although Bayfront Health Port Charlotte plans to close down a single COVID-19 unit, the COVID-19 wing at Fawcett Memorial Hospital across the street remains open. The single COVID-19 at Bayfront Health Punta Gorda is also open still.

More than 22% of Charlotte County’s hospital beds are available. Hospitals are still following CDC guidelines, and members of the public are urged to as well.

“So what we’re looking to right now is to spring break safely,” Pepe said. “That’s probably the next big push that you’re looking at.”

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