WILMINGTON — ChristianaCare is seeing high numbers of patients in all settings of care, including an influx of respiratory illnesses this winter involving more flu cases than COVID-19.
Delaware recorded 658 new flu cases between Dec. 29 and Jan. 4 and 1,692 cases since late September. State health officials report on its health dashboard that there have been 2,564 COVID-19 cases overall this season, but the number of cases is dropping. So far this week, there have been 283 new COVID-19 cases.
Still, it’s a reason for concern as patients flock to emergency departments for treatment. ChristianaCare representatives said that patient volumes across “all settings of care” are high and patients and visitors are encouraged to wear a mask once again.
Delaware Healthcare Association Vice President of Clinical Affairs and Operations Megan Williams said that while some emergency departments are busier than others, she’s heard that it’s not as extreme as it had been during the first years of the pandemic.
“In terms of illness patterns, what we’re seeing is very consistent pre-COVID where we had the typical flu surge this time of year. But what COVID did was really highlight the need to be prepared about capacity,” Williams told the Delaware Business Times. “In the setting of acute care, it’s our job to make sure we’re ready for anything. And COVID was one of the worst nightmare scenarios, and it will leave a mark on how we prepare forever.”
In the first year of the coronavirus pandemic, Delaware and the rest of the world was urged to social distance and stay away from crowds to slow the spread of the virus while the United States quickly developed vaccines. In the meantime, health care systems across the country worked around the clock to treat patients. At some points over the past two years, all registered nurses were called to volunteer at hospitals, while other health care facilities were suspending surgeries to maximize resources on hand.
Now that Delaware is closing in on five years since its first reported COVID-19 cases, the winter surge is looking less severe than it has in the recent past. But it doesn’t mean that Delawareans need to lower their guard, said Beebe Healthcare Chief Population Officer William Chasanov.
“Back in 2020, 2021, when we had a significant number of patients that needed hospitalization, and obviously we need that capacity to treat illnesses plus all the other things that might come up … and every year we get back to the respiratory season we had prior to COVID. But we don’t want to see people in the hospital for this, and that’s why it makes it more critical to take preventive measures,” he said.
Delawareans are urged to stay away from large crowds and limit their exposure to others and stay home if they feel sick. Washing hands for at least 20 seconds and wearing a mask is also encouraged.
Medical professionals are ready to treat patients, but Dr. Priyanka Dixit-Patel of ChristianaCare stressed that primary care offices and urgent care facilities are the place to be for those suffering from the flu and other illnesses with symptoms that are not as severe.
“There’s so many viruses going around, so it’s best to see someone early in your symptoms to check in and see what they suggest, and it can be hard to distinguish between the flu, RSV (respiratory syncytial virus) and COVID. RSV can tend to be more served across infants and young children and our elderly patients,” she said.
Patients should also consider getting the latest vaccinations for the flu and COVID-19 to help boost protections and reduce the severity of symptoms, according to medical professionals. Getting a vaccine at any time is better than none at all, Patel said, but to maximize the efficiency, consider talking to your doctor about it in the spring and the fall.
“I think people can be reassured by talking to their primary care doctors about the best path forward because they know your health conditions and your history better than others,” Patel added.