Local hospitals: COVID cases manageable but it's 'still important to get vaccinated'

Dec. 8—CUMBERLAND — COVID-19 cases are rising at a steady but manageable rate, local hospitals said Wednesday.

Dr. David Burwell, chief quality officer at UPMC in West Central Pennsylvania and Maryland, said cases of the virus as well as influenza are expected to increase during winter months.

A surge in cases is not expected, however, and hospitalizations remain low, he said.

"It seems to be at a point where it will not be a threat to the broad population's health or the ability of the health care system to respond adequately," Burwell said.

"We now have more tools to handle infection — vaccines, better testing and treatments," he said. "In general, people are doing better because they have built up their immunity from either vaccines or having recovered from COVID."

However, COVID-19 remains "a significant threat" to people with compromised health, including the elderly and those who have other risk factors, Burwell said.

"It is still important to get vaccinated," he said. "The latest COVID vaccine offers better protection to the current variants. So even if you got vaccinated last year, there's benefit to getting the latest vaccine."

People should also get the flu shot, Burwell said.

"It is safe and effective to get both vaccines at the same time," he said. "We always want to make sure as many people as possible are availing themselves of these two protections. If you haven't gotten a flu shot yet — it's not too late. You still have time to get the shot and benefit from it."

The best defenses against COVID-19 and the flu remain getting vaccinated and continuing basic health and hygiene practices, Burwell said.

COVID-19 conditions are similar at Garrett Regional Medical Center and Potomac Valley Hospital in Keyser, West Virginia — both are part of the WVU Medicine system, said Kendra Thayer, chief nursing officer.

"We are seeing an increase in community rates of COVID with some requiring hospitalization but nothing like prior COVID surges," she said. "This is the time of the year when all of these disease conditions increase and this year is no exception."

Thayer said the hospital system tells people to talk to their health care providers about COVID-19, flu and respiratory syncytial virus vaccinations to decrease severity of symptoms if they would contract any of the conditions.

"We also encourage people to please stay home if they are feeling ill or having any respiratory symptoms," she said.

Masking and hand washing are the best means to prevent infection, Thayer said.

"If you feel you may have one of the conditions, please contact your health care provider for information on testing and care," she said.

"We encourage the public to not use the emergency department for testing or mild symptoms, but rather go to their primary care provider," Thayer said. "Primary care or urgent care are the best resources for this. Over-the-counter tests are also available."

Teresa McMinn is a reporter for the Cumberland Times-News. She can be reached at 304-639-2371 or tmcminn@times-news.com.