NH COVID-19 hospitalizations fall, but hospitals still experiencing post-holiday surge
Some intensive care units full
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Some intensive care units full
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MOVING PATIENTS TO OTHER FACILITIES TO MAKE SURE THEY GET PROPER CARE. >> EVERY DAY, WE FEEL LIKE WE ARE RIGHT ON THE KNIFE EDGE. >> I THINK WE ARE IN THE WORST OF IT RIGHT NOW, YEAH. JESSICA: CATHOLIC MEDICAL CENTER IN MANCHESTER AND ST. JOSEPH HOSPITAL IN NASHUA SAY THEIR INTENSIVE CARE UNITS ARE AT OR NEAR CAPACITY. >> UNFORTUNATELY, IT’S NOT GOING VERY WELL. WE’VE HAD A SIGNIFICANTLY STRAINED CAPACITY. JESSICA: WHILE COVID-19 CASES AND DEATHS IN NEW HAMPSHIRE CONTINUE TO RISE, HOSPITALIZATIONS HAVE RECENTLY GONE DOWN, BUT MEDICAL PROFESSIONALS SAY DON’T READ TOO MUCH INTO THAT. >> WHILE THE OVERALL NUMBER HAS GONE DOWN, WE ARE SEEING INCREASES IN HOSPITALIZATIONS IN OTHER PARTS OF THE STATE, SO WHILE THE OVERALL NUMBER MAY COME DOWN, IT MAY MASK WHAT INDIVIDUAL HOSPITALS ARE FACING. JESSICA: SAINT JOSEPH HOSPITAL SAYS IN SOME CASES, THEY’RE EFFECTIVELY TREATING ICU PATIENTS IN OTHER AREAS OF THE HOSPITAL. BOTH FACILITIES SAY STAFFING IS STILL AN ISSUE. >> HAVING BEDS IS POINTLESS IF YOU DON’T HAVE THE STAFF TO MANAGE THEM. SO REALLY, THE KEY PROBLEM THAT WE HAVE IS STAFF. >> WE’VE HAD UPWARDS OF 100 STAFF QUARANTINE, 50 OF WHICH WERE NURSES. JESSICA: DR. VELEZ IN NASHUA SAYS HE BELIEVES THEY’RE CURRENTLY EXPERIENCING THE PROJECTED CHRISTMAS HOLIDAY SURGE. >> I WOULD SAY THAT OVER THE WEEKEND, WE ARE DEFINETLY IN THE SITUATION. THAT’S TOUGH, AND THAT HAS BEEN A SITUATION THAT HAS OCCURRED CYCLICALLY SINCE AROUND CHRISTMAS. JESSICA: NEW HOSPITAL -- THE NEW HAMPSHIRE HOSPITAL ASSOCIATION SAYS THE HOSPITALS DO COMMUNICATE WITH EACH OTHER ON A REGULAR BASIS SO THEY CAN HELP EACH OTHER WITH WHATEVER THEY NEED. THEY DO FEEL LIKE THEY CAN CARE FOR EVERY PATIENT, WHETHER IT IS A COVI