Amid Spike in COVID-19 Cases, Lee Health Encourages Vaccination, Masking

August 11, 2021

COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations are once again increasing – jumping from 33 hospitalized patients at the end of June to more than 290 as I write this column today. Late last month, when cases began to rise, we resumed the daily reporting of our COVID-19 statistics to the local media. We believe that sharing this information on the state of the coronavirus pandemic in our community is important and helps our families, friends and neighbors make informed decisions for their safety and that of others. We appreciate our media partners helping us spread the information.

As you have probably seen in the news, this increase in patients has put a strain on Lee Health’s resources, specifically in the emergency department where there have been longer than normal wait times (for this time of year) and the demand for COVID testing has skyrocketed. Our emergency departments are always ready to provide care, but we also want to remind you of better sources for COVID-19 testing, including Lee Convenient Care clinics, any walk-in urgent care center in our area, retailers like CVS and Walgreens, and the Florida Department of Health operates a drive-thru location in Fort Myers.

The challenges we are facing in our emergency departments and the increased numbers of hospitalizations are placing a brighter spotlight on the importance of vaccination. During the week of July 19, 89% of our hospitalized COVID-19 patients were not vaccinated.

Getting the vaccine does not guarantee that you won’t get sick, but if you do get sick, your risk of severe illness is dramatically lower and odds are you will not be hospitalized – thus, the vaccine is working as it is supposed to.

In addition to the decreased risk of severe illness, the more people who are vaccinated, the less opportunity there is for the coronavirus to spread across our community. Mutations like the current Delta variant spread more quickly, and vaccination helps to mitigate this risk. This virus is affecting people of all ages and levels of health, and whether you come into our clinic at Gulf Coast Medical Center or get vaccinated at one of our area’s many local retailers, it is the best thing you can do to help keep yourself and others safe.

Southwest Florida is currently a hotspot for COVID-19, and the CDC has updated their masking recommendations to include wearing masks indoors when out in public, even if you are fully vaccinated. Lee Health supports these recommendations, as the coronavirus ravages our community.

Wearing a mask is one easy step you can take to add an extra layer of protection on top of getting the vaccine. Our goal is to keep people out of the hospital, and I believe following this recommendation is an effective way to do that. As a reminder, masks are required in all Lee Health facilities, and we ask that you bring your own.

Lee Health also recently decided to offer Lee Telehealth free until further notice. Lee Telehealth connects patients directly with a physician or advanced provider and is available 24/7. The normal cost of a visit is $49. This is a great option for someone concerned about COVID-19 symptoms or exposure who doesn’t need emergency care. We hope that by making it free, our community will utilize this service, which will help preserve our resources in the emergency departments. You can visit https://www.leehealth.org/our-services/telemedicine/lee-telehealth for more information.

I know we have been at this a long time, and just a month ago there was a lot of reason for optimism that we’d turned a corner, but the unfortunate truth is that we are still very much in the thick of the fight against the coronavirus pandemic. By getting vaccinated and wearing a mask, everyone can help save lives, keep people out of the hospital and conserve community resources to make sure we continue to be able to effectively care for all patients who need us in Southwest Florida.