Health care • Booster dose • Vaccine

 

Health care • Booster dose • Vaccine

Phoebe eases visitation restrictions

Phoebe Putney Health System announced that it’s easing visitation restrictions as they prepare for new COVID-19 booster shots

As of Friday morning, these were Phoebe’s COVID-19 numbers:

Total COVID-19 Patients in Phoebe Putney Memorial Hospital – 24

Total COVID-19 Patients in Phoebe Sumter Medical Center – 4

Total COVID-19 Patients in Phoebe Worth Medical Center – 2

Total Inpatients Recovered – 4,698

Total Positive Deaths from Phoebe Putney Memorial Hospital – 466

Total Positive Deaths from Phoebe Sumter – 126

Total Positive Deaths from Phoebe Worth – 1

Total Vaccines Administered – 81,418

Phoebe officials said COVID-19 hospitalizations have remained relatively flat for several weeks. 

Friday, Phoebe reported caring for 30 COVID patients in its hospitals. That number is up just one, from 29 weeks ago. Because of that, Phoebe is easing visitation restrictions at its facilities.

We can safely accommodate additional visitors as long as everyone follows our masking protocol.  We still require double masking – a surgical mask covered by a well-fitting cloth mask – or an N95 for all visitors and staff.  Evidence shows that level of protection greatly reduces the risk of virus transmission,” Grant said.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) still recommends masking in healthcare settings.  According to the current guidelines for healthcare facilities on the CDC’s website, “it is generally safest to implement universal use of source control (masking) for everyone in a healthcare setting.”

The CDC has also approved the use of new COVID-19 vaccine boosters from Pfizer and Moderna. 

Phoebe officials said they have placed orders for both vaccines and will begin administering those shots as soon as the shipments arrive.

The Pfizer vaccine is currently authorized for anyone 12 and older.  Moderna’s booster is authorized for those 18 and older. Anyone can receive one of the new booster shots at least two months after the last dose of any COVID-19 vaccine and three months after an infection.