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November 24, 2020

Hospitalizations for COVID-19 continue to rise in region, state 

Dr. Thomas Balcezak, executive vice president and chief clinical officer with Yale New Haven Health.
By Michelle Tuccitto Sullo

The Yale New Haven Health system continues to see a rapid surge in patients hospitalized due to COVID-19.

CEO Marna P. Borgstrom reported 416 in-patients with the virus across the entire health system Tuesday, nearly double the number from two weeks ago, when there were 210. 

The breakdown this week included 217 COVID in-patients at Yale New Haven Hospital, 124 at Bridgeport Hospital, 28 at Greenwich Hospital, 34 at Lawrence + Memorial in New London and 14 at Westerly Hospital in Rhode Island.

In late October, the health system’s COVID-19 in-patient population was at 90.

“People are tired and letting their guard down, which has probably contributed to the rise,” Borgstrom said. “The numbers are growing fast, but fewer are in the ICU or intubated than in the spring.”

To date, the health system has treated over 5,000 people, and 642 COVID patients have died, Borgstrom reported.

“For these families, this will be a very different Thanksgiving,” Borgstrom said.

Dr. Thomas Balcezak, executive vice president and chief clinical officer, said the health system continues to have adequate personal protection equipment and supplies to treat patients.

He noted there are now three vaccine candidates going to the U.S. Food & Drug Administration for review, including vaccines developed by Pfizer, Moderna and AstraZeneca.

“I will be getting a vaccine as soon as I am able,” Balcezak said. “The FDA has a very vigorous process for testing for safety, and I am personally very comfortable taking [any future FDA approved] vaccine.”

On Monday, Gov. Ned Lamont reported there were 875 patients hospitalized with COVID-19 statewide, and the state has had 106,740 positive cases and 4,871 deaths.

As the holiday shopping season ramps up, Lamont urged state residents to be careful.

“Retail can be operated safely as long as we use masks and practice social distancing,” Lamont said.

Contact Michelle Tuccitto Sullo at msullo@newhavenbiz.com.

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