COVID-19 hospitalizations have been on the rise for the past few weeks.
Butler Health System’s Chief Medical Officer Dr. David Rottinghaus says that the virus has definitely reached the community spread level in Butler.
“We’re back in terms of a very heightened awareness of the rapid spread of this virus,” Rottinghaus said. “It’s in our community, it appears to be in every community across the county, and this time it also appears to be in rural areas.”
Rottinghaus also says that the medical field has learned more about the virus since the start of the pandemic.
“We have a better understanding of how this disease infects people and what it can do to people if it infects them,” Rottinghaus said. “And of course we have some treatment modalities available to us, and better management skills around us than we had in March.”
Meanwhile, Butler County Emergency Services Director Steve Bicehouse says at the moment the hospital hasn’t conveyed concerns of reaching capacity issues, but instead has staffing concerns.
“Staffing is one of the biggest concerns. That’s where [the hospital] is facing some of their biggest issues,” Bicehouse said. “It’s not space. Space isn’t an issue; it’s more about the staff.”
“The staff have to be quarantined because they’re exposed to people. They may not have the disease, but they still have to be quarantined, they can’t be around patients.”
Broad Street Elementary School is still ready in case it’s needed for overflow capacity, but Bicehouse said that did not appear to be imminent.
Listen to our interview with Dr. David Rottinghaus:
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