These are the latest coronavirus news for this week from WGCU. I’m Tiffany Pulido.
The holiday break caused an increase of COVID-19 cases of the Omicron variant in Southwest Florida. As of Wednesday, Lee Health has admitted 317 COVID-19 patients into their hospitals. 11 of them are being treated at the Golisano’s Children’s hospital.
The CDC recommends those with COVID-19 should quarantine for five days after the first day of full contact then wear a mask around others for another five days after isolating.
As the spike in COVID cases continues, Lee Health believes they will be at capacity in the next few weeks.
According to the Fort Myers News-Press, the healthcare system has temporarily canceled elective procedures for the rest of the month to make room for incoming patients admitted with COVID-19.
Procedures that won’t harm the patient if they’re rescheduled or require an overnight stay at the hospital are to be postponed. NCH is currently not canceling any elective procedures. Lee Health encourages patients to access Lee Telehealth, a free service, to get medical assistance without waiting in urgent care centers. You can visit their website at www.LeeTeleheath.org
The Golisano Children’s Hospital’s walk-up only Mobile Vaccination Clinic will be making two stops to vaccinate kids ages 5 and older with Pfizer for free. They’ll be at the Boys & Girls Club – Renaissance Preserve in Fort Myers on Thursday, January 13, from 5:30-7:30 p.m. The next stop will be at Immokalee Community Park on Friday, January 14 from 2:00-6:00 p.m.
Golisano Children’s Hospital's dates and locations page is updated weekly with its mobile vaccine clinic information.
These have been the latest coronavirus news for this week from WGCU.