Hospitalizations for COVID-19 declining in Southwest Florida, mirrors the state

Hospitalizations for COVID-19 are declining in Southwest Florida, and reflect a similar trend statewide, data shows.

In Collier, the NCH Healthcare System on Monday reported 26 patients hospitalized for COVID-19, a dramatic drop from 142 inpatients reported two months ago on July 14 at its peak.

Lee Health reported 59 patients were hospitalized Monday, its lowest since the first week of April, according to Lee Health data. That's compared to a peak two months ago where 307 patients were hospitalized on July 14.

Dr. Larry Antonucci, president and CEO of Lee Health, said the declining hospitalizations and cases indicates that Southwest Florida residents are embracing social distancing, wearing masks and good hand hygiene.

“The rate of hospitalizations are a fraction of where they were two months ago, and demand for testing is down,” Antonucci said. “However, the coronavirus is still present in Southwest Florida, and as more people congregate in public the risk for another spike in cases increases.”

The state reports hospitalizations are down more than 70% since its peak in July. There were 2,637 hospitalizations statewide Monday, according to the state Department of Health. 

There were 1,736 new cases statewide and 34 deaths Monday, the report shows. That brings the cumulative to 665,730 cases statewide and 12,642 deaths.

The steady drop has also prompted the NCH to reinstate limited patient visitation starting Tuesday. NCH is the last of three hospital systems in the region to restart visitation.

More:Southwest Florida hospitals allowing patient visitation due to drop in COVID-19 cases

The publicly-operated Lee Health in Lee County reopened limited visitation in June and expanded the hours late last month. Physicians Regional Healthcare System in Collier reinstated its visitation policy Aug. 31.  

The month of September has brought a dramatic shift in bed availability for Lee Health hospitals. The hospital system reported 79% of beds were full and staffed Monday compared to 95% occupied two months ago.

Lee Health operates 1,812 beds at four campuses for adult care but not all beds are staffed. The hospitals are Lee Memorial, Gulf Coast Medical Center, Cape Coral Hospital and HealthPark Medical Center.

Lee Health’s positivity rate, the figure for how many people have tested positive against all tests given through the hospital system, is 12.2%, according to Lee Health data.

Since the pandemic began in March, Lee has had the eighth highest cumulative total of COVID-19 cases among Florida’s 67 counties. As of Monday, there have been 19,370 cases; the state does not report the number of people recovered.

Lee has the seventh highest number of deaths at 448, according to DOH.

A statewide hospitalization tracker showed 75 people hospitalized in Lee on Monday, which likely lags in updates compared to hospital reports.

On Monday, the state reported 37 new cases in Lee and no new deaths.

“As a community, we must continue to practice the same precautions that have gotten us to this point for as long as the coronavirus poses a threat,” Antonucci said. “They are proven to save lives and keep our friends, family and neighbors safe.”  

There is no mask mandate in Lee County although Sanibel and Fort Myers Beach have imposed mask-wearing requirements in businesses.

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Collier County does have a mask mandate, passed by the commission on July 21, and extended earlier this month to remain in effect until Oct. 22. The cities of Naples and Marco Island opted out.

At NCH on Monday, 35% of beds for adult care were available compared to 15% available two months ago.

The state reported 25 new cases and no new deaths Monday in Collier. The cumulative case volume is 12,234 cases and 192 people have died.

The state’s hospitalization tracker reported 32 people hospitalized in Collier.

Physicians Regional reported 14 patients hospitalized Monday.

Scott Lowe, CEO of Physicians Regional, said he is cautiously optimistic but residents must continue to follow preventive measures.

“Now that more restrictions are being lifted and with our seasonal residents returning for the winter remaining vigilant with infection prevention practices is a top priority,” he said. “It is important for the community to continue to wear face masks, follow social distancing guidelines and use good hand hygiene."     

NCH’s testing of symptomatic patients is declining and the positivity rate Monday was 12.6% for patients tested through hospital labs.

Jonathon Kling, chief nursing officer at NCH, said the public needs to stick to safety measures to prevent the numbers from going up.

“As our businesses and schools cautiously reopen, we must all remember to do our part in helping to avoid the spread of COVID,” Kling said. “It is easy to forget in the face of declining hospitalizations for this disease that we are still under threat from this virus if we let our guard down.”

Kling said the preventive measures of wearing masks, social distancing and frequent hand washing is proven.

“If we as a community continue to hold the line and practice these simple measures, we strongly believe that our region will continue to enjoy a decline in cases as we continue to learn to live with COVID until a vaccine is developed,” he said.

NCH is lifting its visitation prohibition effective Tuesday to allow visitation of adult patients from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. and from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. Only immediate household members will be allowed to visit patients and visitors must be older than 12

No visitation will be allowed for COVID-19 patients except under compassionate care circumstances.

All visitors at NCH must wear masks and must attest to being in good health and undergo temperature checks.