Lee Health COVID-19 cases up 600%, NCH cases up 800% as Southwest Florida faces 'pandemic of the unvaccinated'

Fort Myers News-Press

Lee Health and the NCH Healthcare System are reporting a 600% and an 800% increase in COVID-19 hospitalizations over the last month, respectively, numbers that are straining hospital resources and are quickly nearing last summer's peaks.

Larry Antonucci, Lee Health's president and CEO, said in a news conference on Wednesday that 210 people are now hospitalized for the novel coronavirus at his four hospitals. That's up from 30 cases about a month ago.

Scenes from Lee Health's Gulf Coast Medical Center and Cape Coral Hospital on Thursday, July, 23, 2020 as they navigate through the COVID-19 pandemic.

At its peak last summer, the health system was treating more than 370, a number that could soon be reached at the current pace of new infections.

"This concerning trend is both threatening the well-being of Southwest Florida and beginning to put a strain on Lee Health’s resources, specifically in the emergency department," Antonucci said. "This week, patients in the ED are experiencing longer wait times than normal for this time of year as the coronavirus spreads through our community and the demand for COVID testing has skyrocketed."

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About 90% of the patients are unvaccinated, according to Lee Health. None of the vaccinated patients have needed treatment in an intensive care unit, Antonucci added. The average age of patients is 58, and two-thirds are under 65, he said.

Antonucci said people wanting COVID-19 tests should instead get them at urgent care centers or at a retail pharmacy that offers them.

NCH Healthcare System, which operates the largest hospitals in Collier County, reported on Wednesday that it is now treating 95 COVID-19 patients, up from the 12 it had three weeks ago.

Paul Hiltz, president and chief executive officer of NCH, said 79 are unvaccinated.

“We think it is a pandemic of the unvaccinated,” Hiltz said.

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During the first wave of the pandemic last year, NCH’s highest COVID patient count was 144, set on July 15, 2020, records show.

Because of the recent uptick that is tied to the more contagious delta variant, the nonprofit hospital system and the city of Naples are reactivating their joint campaign to provide free masks to anyone who needs them.

That was a program initiated in 2020 shortly after the pandemic took hold in the region and it faded from importance after masks and vaccines became readily available last year.

Naples Mayor Theresa Heitmann on Wednesday said she is urging residents to wear masks and the renewed campaign with NCH is to get ahead of the new uptick in cases.

There is no consideration by the city to impose a mask mandate, she said.

Medley Roberts, a CNA with Lee Health at Gulf Coast Medical Center moves from room to room assisting patients that have COVID-19 or are exhibiting symptoms of it on Thursday July 23, 2020. Roberts will change the gown numerous times throughout a shift. Every time a staff member enters a room with a COVID-19 positive patient, new rubber gloves and a gown are used.

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In December 2020, the city established its mask mandate. That was months after the Collier County Commission set one in the county. Both expired in mid-April.

“I believe people are protecting themselves,” she said. “I still see people wearing masks.”

The delta variant is now the dominant strain of the virus circulating in the state and Florida accounts for 20% of new infections nationwide. Last week the state reported 73,199 new infections, the single biggest surge since Jan. 27, according to state Department of Health data.

For anyone who becomes symptomatic and is not vaccinated, Hiltz urges them to get treated with Regeneron, an infusion-based antibody cocktail, which must be administered within three days of the onset of symptoms to be most effective.

Similarly, he said it’s important for the public to get vaccinated; the shots are freely available at NCH with an appointment and elsewhere in the community.

The NCH vaccine location is NCH Eagleview, 2450 Goodlette Road, Suite 101.