The Chief of Medical Staff for Northeast Georgia Health System says he expects the current surge in COVID cases and hospitalizations will not peak until the first week in September.
Dr. Deepak Aggarwal made his comments Monday morning at a press conference outside Northeast Georgia Medical Center's Gainesville campus.
COVID hospitalizations at NGHS facilities have more than doubled in the last week, rising to 110 on Monday, Aug. 2 from 53 on Monday, July 26. A month ago, on July 2, the number of hospitalized COVID patients was 17.
Aggarwal and other hospital system officials pleaded with the community to get their COVID vaccinations, saying the vaccine is the best defense against the virus, which is spreading rapidly now with the introduction of the Delta variant. The NGHS website says 85% of those currently hospitalized in their hospitals are unvaccinated. The average age of the COVID patients today is 60.
Dr. Erine Raybon-Rojas, a critical care physician, told reporters she and her colleagues are trying their best to convince those who are unvaccinated to get their shots as quickly as possible.
"If you wait until you get in the hospital to get the vaccine, then it's too late," said Raybon-Rojas. "Again, we don't want to say this to scare you or drive fear. We want to make sure that we are giving you factual information so that you can reconsider your stance on the vaccine."
Aggarwal said doctors are doing their best to assuage fears and misunderstandings about the vaccine. He said they've heard a range of reasons from people who don't want the vaccine - everything from fear of sides effects to religious objections.
Elizabeth Larkins, RN, the Executive Director of Medical Nursing for the hospital system, said many nurses have told her they still haven't recovered the emotional and physical strain of the last 18 months.
"Many of them tell me they don't know if they can take another surge," Larkins said, her voice cracking with emotion. "We're already seeing many workers make the difficult decision to leave healthcare either because of their own health - mental, emotional health or because they just don't think they can do it. The new people we see entering these healthcare professions are burning out quickly."
Larkins said the hospital system is short 550 RNs today and that shortage will make battling a fourth wave of COVID hospitalizations even more difficult.
"If you are not concerned enough for yourself to get the vaccine, I'm asking you to please do it for the people in your life who you love," Larkins said. "Do it for your healthcare workers, do it for your community."
