Coronavirus Update and Health System Preparations - 4/6

Testing and Confirmed Cases
To protect patient privacy, we have established a minimum threshold of five for reporting numbers of inpatients with laboratory-confirmed cases of COVID-19.

DCH internal counts as of noon on 4/6/20:

• 8 inpatients are being treated for COVID-19.

• Five or fewer inpatients who are positive for COVID-19 are being treated in the ICU.

• Five or fewer inpatients who are positive for COVID-19 are on ventilators.

• 76 (cumulative) have tested positive for COVID-19 including individuals from the ED, triage tent and inpatient. These individuals are not necessarily in the hospital.

• 1,905 (cumulative) have tested negative at DCH sites.

Update on Sterilization Wrap Mask Assembly
As was reported late last week, over 250 people from the community have already responded to last week’s request from DCH to sew masks from a special medical fabric. So far, the DCH Foundation has been able to assemble and distribute over half the kits and is working to follow up with callers and get the rest out as soon as possible.

In addition to help from individual community members, Mercedes Benz US International reached out and is assembling over 1,000 masks at its factory.

As you may have heard, the DCH Foundation’s BBQ and Blue Jeans event for this year was cancelled. However, many of the event’s sponsors graciously contributed funding anyway which led to the creation of the foundation’s COVID-19 fund. The fund has help support the Feeding the Frontline effort, capital expenses related to ensuring sufficient ICU space, acquiring personal protective equipment, employee hardships, and supporting the remote testing site.

What a tremendous community and business response! Thank you!

Update on Community Made Masks
Community made masks are starting to make their way to DCH and will be put to good use. DCH would like to thank everyone who has donated masks. DCH will continue to gladly accept the homemade masks and put them to good use in lower acuity areas such as the medical office buildings. The masks being made out of surgical fabric will be given to providers in higher acuity areas.

A box will sit outside of the DCH Foundation office at 1110 Dr. Edward Hillard Dr. Please drop off homemade masks in the box and they will be collected multiple times a day. Anything you can share will be greatly appreciated.