Much has been said about Omicron being less severe that the Delta variant. One of the ways to tell that is when the local numbers go up, but hospitalizations do not. Mitigating factors can be local immunization rates and the number of those previously infected. Even though the latter won’t prevent infection, it might help modify the severity. Here is the report from one local hospital system, the Methodist Healthcare System.
COVID Situational Update
- Census
- We started the day with 152 COVID positive inpatients across MHS, up from 125 yesterday, and 106 on Monday, compared with a baseline in the mid-70’s for the month of December.
- We admitted 37 COVID positive patients yesterday and 33 on Monday, compared with single digit COVID admissions for most days in December.
- We are seeing fewer critically ill admissions in the current COVID surge. Current COVID ICU census is comparable to or only slightly higher than our baseline in December. The number of COVID patients on ventilators is roughly the same as it has been for the entire month of December.
- Bed capacity
- The omicron surge is placing a strain on our Med-Surg bed capacity.
- When admitting or assessing COVID patients, please make certain that there is a legitimate reason for initial or continued hospitalization such as a requirement for oxygen supplementation or significantly abnormal vital signs or labs.
- The omicron surge is placing a strain on our Med-Surg bed capacity.
Please expedite discharges of all patients and work closely with Case Management and nursing to make sure that patients are discharged in the most efficient manner.
From the Texas Department of Health Services:
Statement on Monoclonal Antibody Availability
News Release
Dec. 27, 2021
The federal government controls the distribution of monoclonal antibodies, and the regional infusion centers in Austin, El Paso, Fort Worth, San Antonio and The Woodlands have exhausted their supply of sotrovimab, the monoclonal antibody effective against the COVID-19 Omicron variant, due to the national shortage from the federal government. They will not be able to offer it until federal authorities ship additional courses of sotrovimab to Texas in January. People who had appointments scheduled this week will be contacted directly and advised. Other monoclonal antibodies have not shown to be effective against the Omicron variant, which now accounts for more than 90 percent of new cases. The infusion centers will continue to offer those antibodies as prescribed by health care providers for people diagnosed with a non-Omicron case of COVID-19.
Two new oral antiviral drugs authorized last week by the Food and Drug Administration will be available soon, though they are expected to have a limited initial supply, and the federal government will also control their distribution. People with COVID-19 infections at high risk of hospitalization and death should contact their health care provider to discuss treatment options. Everyone should protect themselves from severe COVID-19 by getting vaccinated as soon as possible, getting a booster as soon as they are eligible, and continuing to take precautions to prevent being exposed to the virus that causes COVID-19 and spreading it to others.
The Methodist Healthcare system is predicted to run out of Sotrovimab by mid next week. New shipments should be in the first or second week of January. If one has an appointment already scheduled there should be enough available to meet those.
While there are fewer critically ill admissions, the 50% increase in admissions in 48 hours is cause for concern.
