COVID, other respiratory viruses are straining hospital capacity in Maine

The 2 largest hospital programs in Maine are grappling with capability points as a number of viruses are circulating in communities.

Dr. Dora Ann Mills, chief well being enchancment officer at MaineHealth, stated as of Tuesday morning 85 sufferers had been hospitalized throughout their system with COVID-19 — and 14 younger youngsters had been hospitalized with RSV or different respiratory viruses.

“It’s busy,” she stated throughout an look on Maine Calling. “It appears to be like like it’ll be a really, very busy few weeks or a number of months when it comes to respiratory sicknesses.”

Dr. James Jarvis of Northern Mild Well being, who additionally appeared on Maine Calling, stated Northern Mild Jap Maine Medical Middle is full and a few newborns with extreme signs have been re-admitted at a time when there aren’t many obtainable pediatric beds within the state. He stated hospitals in New Hampshire and Massachusetts are additionally seeing a rise in hospitalizations in youngsters, and if these services turn out to be, that may have an effect on Maine.

Jarvis added that the workforce scarcity can be placing strain on the well being system, as is the dearth of capability at long-term care services.

“And all of that simply backs up the system,” he stated. “And so it makes it a harmful scenario for all. And if we see we begin to see much more numbers of COVID-positive sufferers, extra folks with influenza who want hospitalization, there’s solely so many locations we are able to place them.”