Governor Tom Wolf warned about the impact of the increase in COVID-19 cases in Pennsylvania’s hospitals. The governor said that any shortage of beds in hospitals means anyone who is sick, not just COVID-19 patients, are at risk.
“There are fewer resources to go around for the sickest Pennsylvanians, whatever the sickness that you’re suffering,” Wolf said.
During a news conference Monday, Wolf said hospitals in the commonwealth are already running low on beds in their intensive care units. “If you didn’t know before how urgent the situation is, please pay attention now. We must stop the spread of COVID-19, and to do that we must act now” Wolf said.
He reiterated the importance of following the basic lines of protection against the propagation of the virus: stay home unless you need to go out; do not attend gatherings with people outside your home; and wear a mask if you do need to go out.
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“Doctors and nurses are frightened, and they’re asking the public for help, asking all of us for help to stop this spread of COVID,” he said. “We cannot continue to take our medical workers for granted.”
As the second wave of COVID-19 hits the Philadelphia region, doctors and medical professionals discuss how the virus is impacting hospitals.
Sharp increase
Pennsylvania is working to slow down the sharp increase in coronavirus infections and hospitalizations by issuing strict testing guidelines for people traveling to the state.
The nation’s top health officials are warning that recent travelers are at an increased risk of possibly spreading COVID-19 after the Thanksgiving holiday.
Pennsylvania reported 6,330 new cases on Monday in addition to 8,630 cases on Sunday, bringing the two-day total to 14,960.
That brings the statewide total to 426,444.
Another 111 deaths were reported over the weekend, bringing the statewide toll to 11,373.