UAB Hospital Braces For ‘Terrifying’ Increase in COVID Hospitalizations

 ========= Old Image Removed =========Array
(
    [_wp_attached_file] => Array
        (
            [0] => 2020/12/Screen_Shot_2020-12-09_at_11.08.59_AM.png
        )

    [_wp_attachment_metadata] => Array
        (
            [0] => a:5:{s:5:"width";i:1406;s:6:"height";i:789;s:4:"file";s:49:"2020/12/Screen_Shot_2020-12-09_at_11.08.59_AM.png";s:5:"sizes";a:17:{s:6:"medium";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:49:"Screen_Shot_2020-12-09_at_11.08.59_AM-336x189.png";s:5:"width";i:336;s:6:"height";i:189;s:9:"mime-type";s:9:"image/png";}s:5:"large";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:49:"Screen_Shot_2020-12-09_at_11.08.59_AM-771x433.png";s:5:"width";i:771;s:6:"height";i:433;s:9:"mime-type";s:9:"image/png";}s:9:"thumbnail";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:49:"Screen_Shot_2020-12-09_at_11.08.59_AM-140x140.png";s:5:"width";i:140;s:6:"height";i:140;s:9:"mime-type";s:9:"image/png";}s:12:"medium_large";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:49:"Screen_Shot_2020-12-09_at_11.08.59_AM-768x431.png";s:5:"width";i:768;s:6:"height";i:431;s:9:"mime-type";s:9:"image/png";}s:9:"wbhm-icon";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:47:"Screen_Shot_2020-12-09_at_11.08.59_AM-80x80.png";s:5:"width";i:80;s:6:"height";i:80;s:9:"mime-type";s:9:"image/png";}s:13:"wbhm-featured";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:49:"Screen_Shot_2020-12-09_at_11.08.59_AM-800x450.png";s:5:"width";i:800;s:6:"height";i:450;s:9:"mime-type";s:9:"image/png";}s:20:"wbhm-featured-square";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:49:"Screen_Shot_2020-12-09_at_11.08.59_AM-600x600.png";s:5:"width";i:600;s:6:"height";i:600;s:9:"mime-type";s:9:"image/png";}s:18:"wbhm-featured-home";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:49:"Screen_Shot_2020-12-09_at_11.08.59_AM-554x311.png";s:5:"width";i:554;s:6:"height";i:311;s:9:"mime-type";s:9:"image/png";}s:22:"wbhm-featured-carousel";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:49:"Screen_Shot_2020-12-09_at_11.08.59_AM-470x265.png";s:5:"width";i:470;s:6:"height";i:265;s:9:"mime-type";s:9:"image/png";}s:28:"gb-block-post-grid-landscape";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:49:"Screen_Shot_2020-12-09_at_11.08.59_AM-600x400.png";s:5:"width";i:600;s:6:"height";i:400;s:9:"mime-type";s:9:"image/png";}s:25:"gb-block-post-grid-square";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:49:"Screen_Shot_2020-12-09_at_11.08.59_AM-600x600.png";s:5:"width";i:600;s:6:"height";i:600;s:9:"mime-type";s:9:"image/png";}s:14:"post-thumbnail";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:49:"Screen_Shot_2020-12-09_at_11.08.59_AM-125x125.png";s:5:"width";i:125;s:6:"height";i:125;s:9:"mime-type";s:9:"image/png";}s:27:"web-stories-poster-portrait";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:49:"Screen_Shot_2020-12-09_at_11.08.59_AM-640x789.png";s:5:"width";i:640;s:6:"height";i:789;s:9:"mime-type";s:9:"image/png";}s:28:"web-stories-poster-landscape";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:49:"Screen_Shot_2020-12-09_at_11.08.59_AM-853x640.png";s:5:"width";i:853;s:6:"height";i:640;s:9:"mime-type";s:9:"image/png";}s:25:"web-stories-poster-square";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:49:"Screen_Shot_2020-12-09_at_11.08.59_AM-640x640.png";s:5:"width";i:640;s:6:"height";i:640;s:9:"mime-type";s:9:"image/png";}s:26:"web-stories-publisher-logo";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:47:"Screen_Shot_2020-12-09_at_11.08.59_AM-96x96.png";s:5:"width";i:96;s:6:"height";i:96;s:9:"mime-type";s:9:"image/png";}s:21:"web-stories-thumbnail";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:48:"Screen_Shot_2020-12-09_at_11.08.59_AM-150x84.png";s:5:"width";i:150;s:6:"height";i:84;s:9:"mime-type";s:9:"image/png";}}s:10:"image_meta";a:12:{s:8:"aperture";s:1:"0";s:6:"credit";s:0:"";s:6:"camera";s:0:"";s:7:"caption";s:0:"";s:17:"created_timestamp";s:1:"0";s:9:"copyright";s:0:"";s:12:"focal_length";s:1:"0";s:3:"iso";s:1:"0";s:13:"shutter_speed";s:1:"0";s:5:"title";s:0:"";s:11:"orientation";s:1:"0";s:8:"keywords";a:0:{}}}
        )

    [_media_credit] => Array
        (
            [0] => Mary Scott Hodgin
        )

    [_navis_media_credit_org] => Array
        (
            [0] => 
        )

    [_navis_media_can_distribute] => Array
        (
            [0] => 
        )

)
1653793101 
1607519597

As Alabama extends its statewide mask order, UAB Hospital is preparing for what could be a “terrifying” increase in COVID hospitalizations. 

“We are exhausted and it’s only the beginning,” said UAB’s Chief of Hospital Medicine Dr. Kiersten Kennedy during a press conference Wednesday. 

Kennedy said public health experts predict the hospital’s COVID patient load to double by next week. As of Tuesday afternoon, the hospital was caring for 140 inpatients.

UAB is reducing elective procedures, expanding capacity in Intensive Care Units and recruiting more staff to keep up with increasing demand. 

“When you start to get overwhelmed with all these COVID volumes, it decreases your ability to care for the non-COVID patients,” Kennedy said. 

COVID patients currently occupy about 13% of hospital beds in Jefferson County, home to UAB, the state’s largest hospital. In other counties, COVID patients occupy more than 30% of hospital inpatient beds, with Fayette and Tallapoosa counties nearing a 40% occupancy rate. 

Kennedy said if something does not change soon, hospitals across Alabama could become overwhelmed and unable to care for patients. 

“I don’t think any of us has lived during a time where we’ve had to worry that if we got really sick, that if you came to a hospital, people would not be able to rush you back and take care of you immediately,” she said, “And what we’re saying is that we are reaching that point.”

Kennedy said UAB Hospital is starting to see patients who contracted COVID while traveling or gathering for the Thanksgiving holiday. She urges people to avoid gathering for Christmas and New Years. 

 

Trump administration cancels plans to develop a bird flu vaccine

The Department of Health and Human Services is ending a $766 million contract with the vaccine company Modern to develop an mRNA vaccine for flu strains with pandemic potential, including bird flu.

Federal trade court blocks Trump from imposing tariffs under emergency powers law

The ruling from a three-judge panel at the New York-based Court of International Trade came after several lawsuits arguing that Trump has exceeded his authority.

Judge says Rubio “likely” violated Constitution in ordering Mahmoud Khalil deported

But in a mixed ruling, Federal Judge Michael Farbiarz declined, for now, to order Khalil released from immigration detention.

Tate brothers face rape and trafficking charges in U.K.

British prosecutors have approved 21 charges against self styled misogynist influencers, brothers Andrew and Tristan Tate, including rape, assault, and human trafficking.

Shooting outside Jewish museum raises questions about shifts in political violence

If the suspect in the recent D.C. case planned to kill people because of their Jewish faith, this would represent a major anomaly in lethal, antisemitic violence.

Peruvian farmer loses landmark climate case against German energy giant

A Peruvian farmer has lost a decade-long legal climate case against Germany energy giant RWE. Saúl Luciano Lliuya claimed the company's emissions had contributed to glacial melt threatening his Andean hometown.

More Coronavirus Coverage