KU Sees COVID-19 Patient Dip

Good Friday dawned with some good news from the University of Kansas Hospital: After holding steady at 33 for several days, the census of patients for treatment of COVID-19 has dipped to 30.

In a morning news briefing, medical director Steven Stites and infectious-disease specialist Dana Hawkinson reported that 10 of those were in the intensive care unit, with all but one of that smaller subset on ventilators.

That progress, Stites warned, could be imperiled over one of the biggest family-celebration weekends of the year. “The most important thing, we’re still in the middle of Passover, Easter is on Sunday, so stay home, stay safe,” Stites said.

Whether they show symptoms or not, as much as 10 percent of the population is now carrying the virus and can spread it further, he and Hawkinson stressed.

During the holidays, then, “in a gathering of 50 people, five or even 10 could pass it along,” Stites said, reinforcing the need for continued social distancing and sheltering in place.

“It’s important to do this,” he cautioned. “There is some preliminary evidence that we are bending the curve, but this will allow all of us to get back to some semblance of normal faster, and safer.”

With gatherings over the Easter weekend, Hawkinson said, “the numbers could exponentially increase if peole are not staying home and maintaining physical distancing.”

Reflecting on the sacrifices of people who have lost work, of health-care workers risking their own health in the fight, of the pain being borne by shuttered businesses and others, Stites said he still found inspiration in the collective fight against COVID-19.

“It’s remarkable to watch people pull together to help beat COVID,” he said. “Stay, strong, stay safe, stay home. Bending the curve makes all the difference. The best way to beat coronavirus is in your home. What you do will make a difference.”