Now that children are back in school and COVID-19 cases are surging throughout Central Florida, AdventHealth is supporting the community by providing the latest information and resources. Last week on the AdventHealth Morning Briefing, Dr. Michael Keating, chief medical officer for AdventHealth for Children, called for an increased focus on vaccinations, masking, and social distancing.

Currently, there are 1,580 COVID patients across AdventHealth hospitals in Central Florida, including 22 pediatric COVID patients. According to Keating, both numbers are all-time highs for the healthcare system and there are about 12 COVID patients under age 18 in Orlando.

While many children who get COVID do not get seriously ill, asymptomatic children can spread the disease to other members of their households. Keating strongly encourages everyone to mask their children, and he also noted that the current surge could have been much less significant if there had been a greater increase in community vaccination participation. Watch the briefing here.

For more information and resources about COVID and back to school safety, click here: https://www.adventhealth.com/coronavirus-resource-hub/school-resources

Keeping You Safe – COVID-19 Update

From the Front Lines: What Is The Delta Variant – Dr. Joe Smith, Chief Medical Officer for AdventHealth Daytona Beach, recently had a conversation with Channel 9’s Vanessa Echols, WFTV about what the Delta variant is and why it is the reason for the current spike in COVID-19 cases. Watch the segment here.

From the Front Lines: Monoclonal Antibody Treatment – Dr. Michael Cacciatore, Chief Medical Officer for AdventHealth Medical Group and OB-GYN, recently had a conversation with Channel 9’s Vanessa Echols, WFTV about using monoclonal antibodies as a treatment option for COVID-19. Watch the segment here.

As Delta Variant Spreads, Florida Hospitals Race to Find Open Beds – A recent Wall Street Journal article featured AdventHealth and its response to the latest COVID-19 surge. “This surge has come at us like a freight train,” said Neil Finkler, AdventHealth Central Florida’s chief clinical officer. It is happening as demand for other medical care has rebounded, he said. The Prior surges have helped the team and other staff of AdventHealth’s mission control, which monitors hospital capacity and coordinates transfers, prepare for the latest wave of patients. Now, the highly contagious Delta variant is amplifying the number of Covid-19 patients and the speed at which they arrive making beds everywhere essential. More on the story here and also attached.

Covid-19 Patients Overwhelm Busy Hospitals as Delta Variant Spreads – The latest wave of Covid-19 hospitalizations is crashing into patients returning for care for other ailments, overtaxing some facilities, and exhausting their doctors and nurses. “The physical, mental and emotional toll of this pandemic is taking its toll,” said Linnette Johnson, a chief nursing officer with AdventHealth Central Florida, which last week said it would halt nonessential surgery to free staff and space for Covid-19 patients. The resurgence risks stretching hospitals and healthcare workers so thin that patient outcomes could suffer. Patient surges can leave hospitals without enough doctors, nurses, space, or equipment to care for patients as they normally would. More on the story here.

‘I Was Going to Die’: ECMO Machine Credited with Saving the Most Severe COVID-19 Patients’ Lives – For nearly six months, a 29-year-old man was in the hospital battling COVID-19. He had no idea that was what it was because he had tested negative five times. Saenz’s health quickly declined and he was admitted to a hospital and put on a ventilator. Sixty-four days later, he was put on an Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation machine. After seven surgeries, Saenz went home five months later, crediting the doctors at AdventHealth and the ECMO machine for saving his life. The ECMO machine is a way to get oxygen and filter out carbon dioxide, used mostly for patients with lung and heart issues. 100 patients have been on it at AdventHealth and they have had a 65% success rate. More on the story here.

COVID-19 Vaccine Breakthrough Case Investigation and Reporting – According to the CDC, vaccine breakthrough cases are expected. COVID-19 vaccines are effective and are a critical tool to bring the pandemic under control. However, no vaccines are 100% effective at preventing illness in vaccinated people. There will be a small percentage of fully vaccinated people who still get sick, are hospitalized, or die from COVID-19. When breakthrough infections occur, they usually lead to mild or no symptoms.0.004% of vaccinated people were reported to the CDC as hospitalized or fatal vaccine breakthrough cases. Vaccinated people who get breakthrough infections with the Delta variant could spread COVID-19 as easily as unvaccinated people. This research was key in the CDC’s decision to update its mask guidance. More details here.

Important Resources

We encourage you to use the following resources for your top COVID-19 questions and concerns:

  • COVID-19 Vaccines: Vaccines are readily available at multiple locations: visit Vaccines.gov or Centra Care.
  • COVID-19 Testing: Rapid COVID testing is offered at all Centra Care locations. Only go to the emergency room if you are experiencing severe symptoms, such as difficulty breathing.
  • Coronavirus Vaccine Resource Hub – AdventHealth launched a Coronavirus Vaccine Resource Hub and includes everything from FAQs, latest news and information on the AdventHealth vaccine team and our scientific committee. Visit www.CoronavirusVaccineFacts.com to learn more about the vaccine.
  • If you have questions about COVID-19 or wonder if you should be tested, call the free AdventHealth Coronavirus Information Line at 877-VIRUS-HQ (877-847-8747). You can also find information at www.CoronaVirusSignsAndSymptoms.com.
  • Donation Hub – For ways you can help, including sending notes of encouragement to our caregivers, as well as virtual volunteering opportunities, please click here.
  • Mental Health – If you, your family, or colleagues, are in need of emotional help during this uncertain time, the Heart of Florida United Way 211 Information and Referral Crisis Line is connecting residents with information about available resources in the Central Florida community. Whether it’s finding out the location of the nearest food pantry or seeking information related to the virus, 211 Call Specialists are there to help.
  • Virtual Visit Options – AdventHealth Virtual Visits are available now for primary care, pediatrics and specialty care, as well as physical therapy. In the comfort of your home, you can speak with a medical provider by a video visit or phone call.