Salem Township Hospital is seeing the number of COVID-19 cases once again creeping up.
Hospital President Alex Nazarian says fortunately so far the situation has not returned to summer infection levels.
“Early October we started seeing a decrease in the Covid-19 infection numbers and there was a point actually where we didn’t have a single in patient in the hospital with Covid symptoms or diagnosis. However near the end of the month, specifically as Halloween was taking place and people gathered together we started to see an uptick in cases however this is not at the level we were seeing this summer.”
Nazarian says they have been averaging two inpatients a day, but unlike this summer there have been no issues in transferring patients who have more serious cases. He is concerned about the upcoming holidays as a new Delta Plus variant is making its appearance.
“There are large groups of people that gather together there is always a chance of a mini hot spot being created. All it takes is one person who has Covid in close contact with others.”
Nazarian says they have been completing about 50 tests a day, with about a 10-percent positivity.
He reports the hospital purchased 100,000 home tests that were given to patients or the schools to allow for quick tests. Nazarian says they have been very popular and quite accurate if you follow the very detailed instructions. Since there have been false positives, those testing positive have been offered follow-up
regular tests. Nazarian says they have already distributed most of the kits.
Nazarian says financially October was another good month for the hospital, with a $23,000 positive bottom line. He reports all departments and the clinics were all above budget. Nazarian says a self-check in process is being developed for the clinics to make them more convenient.
