|
Jen VanSkiver, North Ottawa Community Health System Update. Incident Command started informal discussions at NOCH on January 25, 2020. Incident Command officially opened on March 26, 2020. NOCH was initially opened following the 1918 Spanish Flu outbreak. Hospital hit apex during Thanksgiving holiday - most everything was full, and never got to the point where anyone got turned away. Steady decline since then, and today we have ZERO Covid patients at any of our facilities. NOCH is the only hospital in Ottawa County that is vaccinating the public. Dr. Assad insisted that we step up and assist the Ottawa County Health Department. We need more supply to meet current demand. The State is getting 60,000 doses per week; we need that doubled to get to the "herd immunization" we are hoping for by the end of the summer. No more first doses at NOCH this week (same as last week). People are still encouraged to register with NOCH to receive vaccine, eventually we should have doses needed to get people vaccinated. Hospital remains vigilant in watching the spread of the virus, both the initial strain and the more virulent strain(s) being detected in Michigan now. Keep wearing masks, stay socially distant and keep your bubbles small! Jen answered a variety of questions and wished everyone good health in 2021! |
