As the public gets ready to once again visit reopening gyms, movie theaters and amusement parks, health officials are urging people to continue taking steps to avoid COVID-19 infection.
Thomas Balcezak, MD, executive vice president and chief clinical officer of the Yale New Haven Health system, said in a Thursday morning media briefing that social distancing has worked to reduce the number of COVID cases.
According to Balcezak, now is not the time to stop safety measures like wearing masks and maintaining distance.
Keith Churchwell, MD, executive vice president and chief operating officer with the health system, said people need to continue social distancing, hand washing and wearing masks as they return to reopening businesses.
“These are the criteria we strongly recommend to reduce your risk,” Churchwell said.
Asked if crowded outdoor protests over the police killing of George Floyd might lead to a spike in cases, health officials said it is too early to tell.
Balcezak said he noticed that most protesters seem to be heeding warnings and wearing masks.
“When you see images of the protests, I see almost no one without masks,” Balcezak said. “Anything has the capacity to be a super-spreader event, even a birthday party. However, there are ways to have peaceful protests and stay safe.”
The health system donated masks to protesters who came to downtown New Haven earlier this month, according to Balcezak.
The Yale New Haven Health system as of Thursday was down to 105 in-patients with COVID-19, according to CEO Marna P. Borgstrom.
Of this total, 62 patients are hospitalized at Yale New Haven Hospital, with half of those in its intensive care unit, she said.
“We are encouraged that we haven’t seen spikes in cases,” Borgstrom said. “The good news is that we are really seeing our numbers continue to come down.”
According to Gov. Ned Lamont, as of Wednesday, the state has had 4,120 individuals with COVID-19 die, and 270 patients were currently hospitalized statewide.
The health system’s ambulatory sites are opening up, and health system officials reported that more surgeries are now taking place, including transplants. Patients with more urgent needs, such as heart patients, have returned for care, while patients who need care for other specialties, such as orthopedics and pediatrics, have been slower to return, she said.
Before the pandemic, the health system typically operated at over 90-percent capacity. It is currently at about 66 percent, according to Borgstrom.
Churchwell assured patients that the health system can care for them safely and effectively — even as the pandemic continues.
“We know there are many patients who have avoided seeing physicians,” Churchwell said. “If you need our help, don’t hesitate to call.”
