Louisville hospitals ‘feeling the strain’ as more unvaccinated people experience severe illness from COVID-19

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Media Contacts:  Kathy Turner, (502) 817-6959
Louisville Metro Department of Public Health & Wellness 

Louisville hospitals ‘feeling the strain’ as more unvaccinated people experience severe illness from COVID-19

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (August 24, 2021) – Today, Mayor Greg Fischer and Dr. SarahBeth Hartlage, Associate Medical Director for the Louisville Department of Public Health and Wellness, were joined by the chief medical officers of Baptist Health, Norton Healthcare and UofL Health as well as infectious disease nurse practitioner and vaccine expert, Dr. Ruth Carrico, University of Louisville School of Medicine.

Dr. Chuck Anderson, Baptist Health; Dr. Jason Smith, University of Louisville; and Dr. Steve Hester, Norton Healthcare, each said their hospitals were “very full” with COVID patients at levels near the peak earlier in the year. Each said they’re also working hard to balance many demands: patient care, helping other areas by taking on patients from counties where hospitals have reached capacity, and managing staffing challenges. 

“We’re delaying some elective surgeries to give some staffing relief.  Our employees are tired, and many are feeling maxed out,” said Dr. Anderson.

All three chief medical officers emphasized that most of the patients in their hospitals for COVID are unvaccinated. 

“No one in our ICU for the past three weeks was vaccinated,” said Dr. Smith. “Our hospitals would be in a very different situation if everyone was vaccinated.”

Dr. Hester shared that the average age of those not vaccinated in Norton hospitals is 53. “We have 197 patients in our hospitals today and only 18 are vaccinated. Being vaccinated makes a big difference and it shows in our numbers.”

When Mayor Fischer asked all three chief medical officers what the community could do to show support to them and their employees during “Health Care Heroes Week,” all three agreed the No. 1 thing anyone could do was get vaccinated.  Each also requested that those coming for medical treatment have kindness and patience for health care workers.

“Many of our employees are stressed. They’ve been working long shifts and they’re worried about taking the virus home to family members. Even though they’ve been vaccinated, they’ve been around the virus all day,” said Dr. Smith.

“Please be kind and patient,” said Dr. Anderson. “Know that we’re in a serious situation and things may take longer. You may not immediately have a bed.”

“Overrun hospitals are bad news for anyone who may need medical attention — scheduled procedures, ER visits,” said Mayor Fischer. “We’re not there yet, but many people in communities facing this catastrophe thought at one point, “That won’t happen here.”

“Let’s support our health care heroes. Stay humble to the virus. Do your part and wear a mask, get vaccinated. Please do so today,” he said. “There are more than 100 locations across Louisville where you can get vaccinated.”

Here are the key COVID-19 data metrics for August 24, 2021:

• Louisville is in the high alert level red with a daily incidence rate of 60.1 cases per 100,000.
• The positivity rate of 13.11% is nearing our record positivity rate of 14.39% set on January 25.
• There were 3,226 new cases over the previous week.
• Hospitalization data:
• 311 patients currently hospitalized have COVID-19. 14 new deaths reported in individuals ranging in ages from 41 to 91.
• 94 patients in ICU with COVID-19.
• 54 COVID-19 patients on ventilators.
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• Vaccines
• 910,261 total vaccine doses given in Metro Louisville since December.
• 59.9% of Louisville residents have received at least one dose of vaccine, and 51.9% have completed the vaccine series.

According to Dr. SarahBeth Hartlage, events are the top setting where people report they may have been exposed to the virus before testing positive. These events include family-and-friend gatherings, concerts, sporting games and practices, restaurants and church.

“One thing we have seen more frequently is people mentioning outdoor places and events where they may have been exposed or while they were infectious,” Dr. Hartlage said. “I would encourage everyone to reduce their risk of being exposed to the virus by wearing a mask regardless of vaccination status when they’re in large groups of people outdoors or indoors.”

Booster Vaccine Doses and FDA Approval of Pfizer Vaccine

Dr. Ruth Carrico said FDA’s full approval of the first COVID-19 vaccine is an important milestone that should reassure anyone who has concerns about getting vaccinated.

She said booster doses for those who are immunocompromised now, and later in September for anyone who received Pfizer or Moderna vaccines, is a normal evolution and learning from the science.

“We have a very clever and ferocious virus that we are running to keep in stride,” she said.  “Sometimes we’re ahead of it. Sometimes we fall behind. It is our responsibility as clinicians to keep up with the information, weed out what is junk science and what is truth. But also recognize that truth changes the more we learn about the virus. I expect our approach with boosters will continue to evolve.”

People with immunocompromised conditions are encouraged to reach out to their health care providers to schedule a vaccination.

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