Firelands has 33 COVID patients, 25 staff members sick

SANDUSKY — Firelands Regional Medical Center, coping with a big surge of COVID-19 cases, reported a record 33 coronavirus patients Wednesday and also is dealing with 25 employees out sick from the virus, including 11 nurses. The hospital had 19 coronavirus patients Monday and had six as of Nov. 2. In response to the surge, the hospital opened up unused space for beds and also announced it will ban most visitation beginning Thursday. "We're basically reverting our visitor policy back to what it was previously," Jordan Sternberg, the hospital's spokesman, said Wednesday. There are a few exceptions to the general ban on visitors. OB patients may have one support person, but if the person leaves, he or she cannot return. One support person is permitted for surgery patients receiving anesthesia. Two guardians are allowed for hospitalized children. Limited visitation will be allowed for critical decision making or end-of-life situations. The hospital's designated COVID-19 unit has 16 beds. "We have seen more than 16 in the past so we have experience moving outside of our COVID unit and segregating them to keep our patients and caregivers safe. Fortunately, back in April, we created all these plans in the event we would see increasing numbers," Sternberg said. "We're currently keeping patients with the most need in our COVID and ICU units. Other patients who may not need critical care are being moved to a segregated unit that is often not utilized," he said. "The sense is that we haven't seen the last of this spike in cases, so our command team is currently meeting more often to continue preparing for whatever comes our way." Earlier this year, the Erie County Health Department leased the former Genacross Lutheran Services home, 795 Bardshar Road, so that it could be used as an overflow hospital, if necessary. "Space is not our issue so we don't anticipate using the Lutheran home," Sternberg said. "We have plenty of space. Keeping our staff healthy and, to a lesser degree, supplies, are our greatest needs." Sternberg said the hospital is appealing to the community to take steps to slow the spread of the virus. "We are urging citizens to mask up, keep washing their hands regularly and avoid gatherings so that health systems in our region can continue to provide the best care possible," he said. The number of hospitalized patients statewide has been rising every day. On Thursday, Ohio reported 2,880 patients are hospitalized for COVID-19. Ohio reported 5,874 new cases Wednesday and 76 new deaths, compared to a 21-day average of 23 deaths a day. Firelands and Ohio also are part of a national trend. The COVID Tracking Project said Tuesday that 62,000 people were hospitalized for the virus, a new record. States also reported 131,000 new cases, the largest single-day total since the pandemic began, while deaths hit 1,347. Firelands' COVID-19 unit was built in March as an intensive five-day construction effort; work began on March 15 and the first COVID-19 patient was admitted on March 20. The conversion of a former intensive care unit included installing a negative air pressure system so that air will not leave the isolated area. "We sealed the unit's floors, ceilings, walls and windows to create a secure environment from other hospital areas," said Charlie Kanthak, director of facilities, in an account included in the hospital's annual report. "We added airflow monitors to alert staff should there be a loss of negative air in relationship to the main corridor."