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Coping with COVID: Potential Thanksgiving case jump may not be seen for another two weeks

An anticipated COVID-19 case surge resulting from Thanksgiving holiday gatherings may not be seen for another two weeks, according to Dr. Steven Stites with KU Health. A Thursday briefing from the health system revealed it has 93 patients with acute infections and another 62 in recovery.

In a University of Kansas Health System daily COVID-19 briefing on Thursday, Chief Medical Officer Dr. Steven Stites said that a potential Thanksgiving “surge” in cases may not be evident for another two weeks.

As of Thursday. KU Health was treating 93 patients with acute COVID-19 infections. This number includes 47 in the ICU and 28 on ventilators.

At the hospital, another 62 patients were reported to be in the recovery phase after contracting the virus.

Doctors conducting the COVID-19 briefing were joined by Kansas Sen. Jerry Moran, who said he plans to get a COVID-19 vaccine publicly when one becomes available. Moran also said he will encourage others to get vaccinated.

Similar word about the potential delayed surge came from National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases Director, Dr. Anthony Fauci.

“We don’t expect to see the full brunt of it between two and three weeks following Thanksgiving, so I think we have not yet seen the post-Thanksgiving peak,” Fauci said during an interview with TODAY.

With two major holidays so close together, Fauci said he is concerned the expected spike in cases won’t show until right as Christmas activities and travel resume.