Guadalupe Regional Medical Center COVID-19 Update: August 26, 2021
Guadalupe Regional Medical Center has been experiencing a surge in the number of COVID-19 admitted patients at our facility for approximately six weeks. GRMC is currently caring for 35 COVID patients in addition to our non-COVID census.
GRMC Statistics: The 7-day moving average for COVID hospitalizations is 41 per day. The 7-day moving average for new COVID admissions is 4 per day.
86% of patients currently hospitalized at GRMC for COVID-19 are unvaccinated or not fully vaccinated. Following CDC guidelines, GRMC considers people who are two weeks out from completion of second doses of the Moderna or Pfizer vaccines or one dose of the J&J vaccine to be “fully vaccinated”.
GRMC encourages the public to continue to practice prevention measures. Get vaccinated if your family doctor says you are an appropriate candidate. The Food and Drug Administration officially approved the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine on August 23, 2021 for use in people 16 years of age and up with emergency use authorization continuing for persons 12-15 years of age.
GRMC’s Surge Response Continues: GRMC has received clinical staff from the State effort in response to our State of Texas Assistance Request and continues to bring on health care providers (a mix of nurses and respiratory therapists) through private agency contracts.
This COVID-19 surge of patients is stressing GRMC systems as we work diligently to care for the high volume of critical care patients with limited additional staff. Please know that we are here to care for you but that Emergency Department wait times and routine communications with family may be delayed. We are holding some admitted patients in the ER as they await bed availability and this can impact response time.
Some patients who test positive for COVID-19 with mild to moderate disease and risk factors for progression to severe disease are candidates for monoclonal antibody infusions. GRMC has been working with our local medical community, Guadalupe County and off-duty paramedics, to provide this outpatient service to our high risk populations. Infusions are for treatment of active COVID-19 disease and should not be confused with the protective effect of vaccination.
COVID-19 Testing and Vaccine Information: If you are looking for local COVID-19 testing or vaccine locations please contact your local family physician and/or pharmacy or try the following websites:
https://www.hhs.gov/coronavirus/community-based-testing-sites/index.html#tx
