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Coping with COVID: Two largest medical centers in the region show mixed COVID-19 patient numbers

By Madison Parry

Individual reports from The University of Kansas Health System and Stormont Vail Health on the current number of hospitalized COVID-19 patients show a slight contrast. Each recorded a dip in COVID-19 patients over the weekend, though KU Health was the only one to show an increase by Tuesday.

The past weekend ended on a positive note for healthcare workers at The University of Kansas Health System, though Tuesday numbers added to the COVID-19 patient count.

During a Monday COVID-19 media briefing, the hospital officials announced that from Friday to Monday, COVID-19 hospitalizations dropped from 101 to 82, while ICU patients lowered from 45 to 37.

 A 24-hour turn revealed there are now 87 people with the active virus are hospitalized, adding five to yesterday’s 82.

Fifty-five patients are in the ICU as of Tuesday, a big jump from 37 yesterday, according to the health system. Twenty-six of those ICU patients are on ventilators today, up from 24 yesterday.

Reports show 78 remain hospitalized due to COVID-19 but are out of the acute infection phase. This number is up from 76 on Monday.

Total COVID-19 patient count now sits at 165 patients, up from 158 yesterday.

KU Health doctors noted the overall trend is lower, but COVID-19 patients are still taking a lot of health system capacity and bed space.