Lee Health: 619 COVID patients in hospital system

Lee Health is reporting it has 619 COVID patients in its hospital systems. Eight people died on Tuesday.

Other numbers include:

• As of this morning, Lee Health has 619 COVID-19 patients isolated in their hospitals (inpatient).
• Of those patients, 15 of them are children being treated at Golisano Children’s Hospital of Southwest Florida.
• On Tuesday, there were 68 new COVID-19 hospital admissions and 68 COVID-19 discharges.
• 49% of ventilators and 5% of ICU rooms are available for use. There are 87 COVID-19 patients on ventilators and 110 in the intensive care unit.
• On Wednesday morning, hospital census was at 99% of staffed operational bed capacity.
• Since the start of the pandemic, 935 patients have lost their lives at Lee Health, including 8 yesterday.

The hospital system said the surge continues to challenges hospital resources, but many more people are recovering from COVID at home.

Those at home should have a pulse oximeter and a thermometer to check on symptoms, Lee Health said.

In the early days of feeling sick, check with your doctor to see if monoclonal antibody treatment is the right option. It has been shown to prevent severe illness from COVID-19 if administered early.

If quarantining at home, stay in one room and separate yourself from others to avoid passing on COVID-19.

Stay hydrated and take over-the-counter medication like acetaminiphen (Tylenol) to help your body fight off the virus,

“Laying in a prone position on your stomach can also help with oxygen flow to your lungs. Move around as much as you are able, and refrain from laying on your back. If possible, eat to keep up your energy,” Lee Health said.

For more information on caring for yourself at home please visit the CDC’s website.

Prevention through vaccination is the best defense against COVID. Lee Health offers COVID-19 vaccines for anyone 12 and older at its walk-in Community Vaccination Clinic, located inside Gulf Coast Medical Center. It’s open Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 7:00 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. and there is no cost for the vaccine.