Baxter Regional Medical Center officials say the growing number of patients being admitted with COVID-19 is taking a toll on the hospital.As of Friday afternoon, the facility had 28 COVID patients with one requiring a ventilator. The hospital’s all-time high for COVID patients was 34 on Nov. 11, 2020.Baxter Regional CEO Ron Peterson talks about the hospital’s growing number of COVID patients.
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The number of COVID-19 cases in the Twin Lakes Area has spiked in the past month, with the number of active cases roughly doubling every 10-14 days. The Arkansas Department of Health reports that Baxter County currently has 341 active COVID-19 cases. The county had 185 recognized cases 11 days earlier on July 6. Back on June 9, there were 10 active cases in the county.
Health officials have said the spike in cases, which is also being seen across southwest Missouri, is due to a lack of people being vaccinated against COVID-19 and the arrival of the fast-spreading delta variant first reported in India.
In response to the increased number of COVID patients, Peterson says the hospital has re-opened its dedicated COVID ward.
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Hospitals in southwest Missouri reported they were at capacity last week and had to send new patients to other facilities because there were not enough beds available.
Peterson said the local increase in COVID patients has him worried about having enough beds to go around.
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The hospital reported Friday that 90.2% of its COVID-19 inpatients since March 1 have not been vaccinated against the coronavirus.
In Baxter County, 32.8% of the population ages 12 and up are fully vaccinated against COVID, with another 5.5% partially immunized. Statewide, 39.9% of the population is fully vaccinated and another 9.3% is partially immunized.
Baxter Regional is offering COVID vaccinations through its Internal Medicine and Infectious Disease Clinic. Area residents may call (870) 508-7450 Monday-Thursday 8-5 or Friday 8-noon to schedule an appointment. Vaccines are also available at other area health providers and through several local pharmacies.
Baxter Regional will resume its weekly COVID-19 community updates later this week. That information can be heard live Wednesday mornings at 7 on KTLO and Classic Hits 101.7 or online at ktlo.com.
For more information on the vaccine and for regular updates on COVID-19, visit www.baxterregional.org/coronavirus.
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