Jefferson Health Prepared For Second Wave Of Coronavirus

Jefferson Health is better equipped to help people who are hospitalized during the second wave of the coronavirus pandemic than it was when the pandemic began in the spring, according to an infectious disease physician with the health system.

Jefferson has been using remdesivir and a steroid therapy to help patients who are hospitalized with the virus, Infectious Disease Physician Dr. Mark Condoluci said on Thursday. He made the comments during a news conference with Camden County Director Louis Cappelli Jr. and Camden County Communicable Disease Investigator Rianna Deluca.

“It helps save lives, decrease the length of hospitalizations and the number of hospitalizations,” Condoluci said of the treatment the health system uses.

Remdesivir is the only drug that has been approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the treatment of the coronavirus. A study conducted by the New England Journal of Medicine showed that remdesivir shortened the recovery time for adults who were hospitalized with the virus.

New Jersey Coronavirus Updates: Don't miss local and statewide announcements about novel coronavirus precautions. Sign up for Patch alerts and daily newsletters.

Condoluci said Jefferson’s had committees working on ways to give quick and efficient care, and allow people to get home and on with their lives sooner. They’ve been using four different tests, and the testing is getting stronger and more prevalent, Condoluci said.

“There’s still more work to be done to prevent folks from coming into the hospital,” Condoluci said.

At the same time, he noted the need for more people to come into the hospital if they are feeling sick.

“COVID shouldn’t preclude you from coming in if you need to be seen,” Condoluci said. “We are prepared and ready to continue as we were before the pandemic.”

The second wave of the coronavirus has seen residents with an average age of 37 being infected. The mortality rate isn’t as high as it was with the second wave, but officials warn that can change.

Cooper University Healthcare and Camden County opened a new coronavirus test site at the Camden County College campus in Cherry Hill this week. Read more here: New Coronavirus Test Site In Cherry Hill As Cases Increase

On Friday, Gloucester County officials reminded residents that their test site will be open through February. Read more here: Gloucester County Coronavirus Testing Continues Through February