Louisville City Officials, Local Hospitals Ask The Community To Act Now To Prevent A 'Breaking Point'

Press release from the City of Louisville:

November 17, 2020

On Tuesday, Public Health and Wellness Director Dr. Sarah Moyer said Louisville’s COVID-19 cases are in a phase of rapid growth.

In the last week, Jefferson County eclipsed 3,000 weekly COVID cases continuing a trend of rapid spread in the community.

Since early October, cases have increased 250 percent from 25 cases per 100,000 to 62.9 today. In that same time frame, hospitalizations are up 512 percent from 66 to 338.

“If there were a color beyond red on the scale, that’s where we would be right now. There is uncontrolled spread of the virus despite the measures we have in place, Moyer said.”

The numbers are cause for significant concern and Mayor Greg Fischer said it will require a serious response from everyone in our community to limit mobility and follow Gov. Andy Beshear’s Red Zone recommendations with the winter months approaching.

“These steps are more important than ever because the risk is greater. We’re in a crisis right now with this pandemic,” the Mayor said. “Remember, the virus doesn’t care about our holidays and traditions, it only wants to infect us and as many people as possible.”

Here are the key data metrics for the week of November 17, 2020:

• There were 3,377 new cases over the previous week.
• Louisville’s rolling two-week average positivity rate is at 6.6 percent.
• Hospitalization data:
  • 18.9% of patients currently hospitalized have COVID-19.
  • 75 patients in ICU with COVID-19 as of November 17, an increase from 6.6 the week prior.
  • 45 COVID-19 patients on ventilators as of November 17, compared to 40 last week.
• COVID-19 cases remain in every Louisville ZIP code, with nearly all at the red alert level.
• Largest increase in cases are in those ages 15-34.
• Given the high level of community spread, any interaction with members outside the household leaves individuals at greater risk of bringing an infection home. Once one person is infected in a household, it is likely to spread to other members.

Citing the profound impact of COVID-19 on healthcare systems in Louisville, Dr. Moyer noted that increased case numbers can further stress a hospital’s ability to treat patients with other medical issues.

“Capacity is stretched thin across all aspects of healthcare, which limits our abilities to protect and aid people. People haven’t stopped having heart attacks and strokes just because there is a pandemic happening, and we need to have space to care for them, too.”

COVID’s Impact on Healthcare systems

Chief Medical Officers from three of Louisville’s largest hospital systems discussed the impact that COVID-19 has on the local healthcare systems.

Dr. Steve Hester, Chief Medical Officer at Norton Healthcare and Dr. Jody Prather, Chief Strategy and Marketing Officer at Baptist Health said that COVID patients make up 15-20% of admissions. Furthermore, they added hospital capacity isn’t as big of a concern as is the potential overburden on the healthcare systems biggest resource, staff.

Echoing those sentiments Dr. Jason Smith, Chief Medical Officer at University of Louisville Healthcare stated while the hospitals can manage patient capacity now, the current trajectory is unsustainable.

“From a disaster preparedness and planning standpoint there will always be a breaking point. You will eventually overwhelm a healthcare system no matter how prepared you are and how much they’re working. Our communities have an opportunity now to step up and help limit the spread in trying to calm this second wave of infections.”

Other themes they observed were the presence of prolonged post-COVID symptoms in patients under the age of 50 such as inability to smell, brain fog, and in some cases hair loss.

“While it seems like a virus that is transient and moves on fairly quickly for some young folks, there can be prolonged symptoms and consequences,” Dr. Hester said. “It’s important everyone understand the impact and not think it’s only for patients who are at-risk.”

Testing Capacity in Jefferson County

As COVID cases steadily increase in Louisville so does the demand for testing according to Bill Altman, the consultant leading the city’s testing strategy.

In order to meet that demand, Altman said the city is constantly evaluating where COVID spread is happening and ensuring appropriate sites are set up for testing and timely delivery of results.

Altman said nearly 70,000 tests are being conducted for every two-week period. Although Louisville has a robust testing infrastructure, he said they are starting to see the effects of high demand with longer wait times and areas in need of more testing.

"To keep up with demand we're going to look at possibly extending hours at our current test sites, adding weekend hours, and more partnerships with community groups to bring testing to communities that need it most. If cases continue to increase it could place pressure on our testing capacity," he said.

First Responder Data

Currently, 128 members of LMPD, Louisville Fire, Metro EMS, Metro Corrections and the Sheriff’s Office are off-duty due to COVID-19:

• 51 are off with positive tests and in self-isolation
• 38 are off and quarantined due to exposure to someone who tested positive
• 39 are off with symptoms, pending test results

Positive test numbers for first responders/public safety since the incident began:

• 348 positive tests
• 297 have fully recovered and returned to duty

Metro Corrections inmate data:

Total Tested: 4186

Total Positive: 263

Total Recovered: 240

Total currently under medical isolation: 23

Total tests pending: 1

This press release was produced by the City of Louisville. The views expressed here are the author’s own.