Examining how Mississippi’s current COVID situation stack up against previous surges

JACKSON, Miss. (WLBT) – Headlines of President Biden’s optimistic COVID check at the moment have many questioning what’s occurring with the virus. So, we’re wanting on the standing of circumstances and hospitalizations right here within the Magnolia State.

There’s no denying it. COVID hasn’t gone anyplace and medical doctors are seeing extra circumstances of it… once more.

“Simply this morning, I’ve personally taken care of three completely different sufferers who referred to as and had dwelling COVID checks that have been optimistic,” mentioned Dr. Mark Horne, CMO at South Central Regional Medical Middle on Thursday.

“I believe in numerous hospitals on this area, we’re seeing related issues,” famous Dr. Steve Threlkeld, Baptist Memorial Well being Care Medical Director of Infectious Illness. “That’s that the hospitalized sufferers actually have simply not gone down.”

However how does our present COVID state of affairs stack up with earlier surges? Let’s have a look at the info to offer you some perspective. Hospitalizations greater than tripled in Mississippi throughout June alone. And so they’re nonetheless steadily climbing. However we’re nowhere close to the place we have been previously. For instance, on the finish of January 2022, hospitalizations have been up above 1,700 sufferers with confirmed cases-. Now, it’s fewer than 400.

“Our peaks are much less extreme, our acuity, the how sick folks get is much less extreme partially due to vaccination, partially due to the earlier an infection, these prior infections are serving to folks get much less sick this time, just like what the vaccines do,” added Dr. Horne.

Nonetheless, the newest variant is proving to be extra contagious.

“This virus is getting fairly good at getting round our defenses, even defenses that had been stimulated and sort of bolstered by vaccines and an infection,” famous Threlkeld.

They’re discovering that as COVID fatigue units in, persons are extra more likely to brush apart any signs shortly.

“I might say the vast majority of the circumstances that we’ve had, we’ve got not had sufferers who have been satisfied it was COVID, they thought it was in all probability only a chilly or , sinus signs, and even allergy signs,” described inside drugs specialist at Turner Care Dr. Justin Turner.

That’s why medical doctors are recommending getting updated in your vaccines and staying dwelling in case you’re feeling sick.

“We don’t anticipate it being as unhealthy as final summer season, , with the Delta variant,” mentioned Turner. “However we don’t know. And we don’t need to have to seek out out the laborious means.”

The opposite distinction in comparison with different surges is that fewer persons are dying. And officers hope that development doesn’t change.

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