LEE COUNTY — New numbers from Lee Health show that the pandemic is far from over.
This week, the hospital system has seen a record number of people coming in to be treated for COVID-19, and the Florida Department of Health is reporting hundreds of new positive cases.
We took a look at the data, and spoke with a doctor at FGCU. We both came to the same conclusion: The spread of the virus is worse right now than ever before.
We plotted out a graph of hospitalizations at Lee Health, and it tells a concerning story.
As of Wednesday afternoon, Lee Health was treating the most COVID-19 patients ever, 186.
“If we continue on this trajectory, I see that our fall is going to be very bad," said Dr. Loureen Downes, the Director of the Nurse Practitioner program at FGCU.
Dr. Downes said she’s concerned about what the data shows.
“Hospitalization is an indication of stress on our healthcare system, and as we get more numbers and we increase hospitalizations, we could potentially run out of hospital beds," said Dr. Downes.
Right now, Lee Health says it only has 22% of its hospital beds open. Meanwhile, the number of positive cases being reported by the Department of Health continue to rise. So far, Lee County has 4,062 positive cases, 38% of which came in the last 2 weeks.
“We have had increased testing, yes I get that, but that does not account for all the increase in cases," said Dr. Downes.
Dr. Downes said, there is more that could be done to stop the spread. Last week, Orange County, FL passed an ordinance, requiring most people to wear a mask in public.
Dr. Downes said, if cases continue to rise, it should happen here too.
“I recognize that our government officials don’t want to tell people what to do, but if all the institutions do require it, then it will be even across the board," said Dr. Downes.
But for now, Dr. Downes says people need to recognize that conditions are worse than they were when everyone was under quarantine, and they should act like it.
“I think each person just needs to take individual responsibility, in light of the fact that we don’t have a large mandate, to do their part to protect their family, their friends," said Dr. Downes.
