Guadalupe Regional Medical Center has been experiencing a surge in the number of COVID-19 admitted patients at our facility for the last nine weeks. GRMC is currently caring for 44 COVID patients in addition to our non-COVID census.

GRMC Statistics: The 7-day moving average for COVID hospitalizations is 42 per day. The 7-day moving average for new COVID admissions is 6 per day. GRMC has recently seen a minor increase in the number of patients from local areas presenting with active COVID-19 disease requiring hospitalization.

This most recent surge has included a larger percentage of hospitalizations in younger age groups than the prior two surges. Persons aged 50-59 accounted for the age group with the highest percentage of hospitalizations in the first and second surge followed by persons 80+. During this third surge, persons 50-59 still have the highest percentage of hospitalizations but persons aged 30-39 and 40-49 are next highest percentages hospitalized, respectively.

89% 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.

GRMC’s Surge Response Continues: This COVID-19 surge of patients has stressed GRMC systems and local health care providers as we all 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 continue to be delayed. We are holding some admitted patients in the ER as they await bed availability and this impacts response time.

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 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
https://tdem.texas.gov/covid-19/