- April 24, 2024
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Halifax Health has triple the amount of admitted COVID-19 patients now compared to the last surge in January, said Dr. Margaret Crossman, the hospital's chief medical officer, during the County Council meeting on Tuesday, Aug. 3.
Crossman informed the council that Halifax Health currently has 150 admitted COVID-19 patients in its Daytona, Port Orange and Deltona facilities combined, 50 of which are in critical care. Of those, 25 require a ventilator. In the prior surge, the hospital saw a maximum of 55 patients total in the hospital's three facilities.
The only change for elective surgeries — which were suspended at Adventhealth facilities — at Halifax Health is that they require an overnight hospital admission, for which Halifax Health now has a daily limit.
AdventHealth's Central Florida Division currently has about 1,200 admitted COVID-19 patients in its hospitals in Orange, Osceola, Seminole, Lake, Polk, Volusia and Flagler counties. Of that figure, about 300 are in Volusia's hospitals.
Dr. Joe Smith, chief medical officer of AdventHealth Daytona Beach, vaccines remain the best way to stop this current surge and prevent future ones
Like at Halifax, about 90% of admitted COVID-19 patients at AdventHealth are unvaccinated.
"This is a surge that perhaps did not have to happen," Smith said. "The vaccine is ubiquitous now."
Both hospital systems have transitioned to virtual visits only for COVID-19 patients, with exceptions made for obstetrics and pediatric patients.
The presentation of COVID-19 data by the hospital representatives was requested by Councilwoman Barb Girtman, who pleaded with the public to wear a mask in public if they choose to bypass the vaccine.
"This is no joke," Girtman said. "This is real. This is no hoax. This is real life in our own community."
According to the Florida Department of Health, 56% of Volusia County's eligible population (those 12 and older) have been vaccinated as of July 29. A total of 3,495 new COVID-19 cases were reported July 23-29.
