Doctor in Texas fears New York scenario, as coronavirus patient numbers steadily climb

Record ID: 1561183

  • Title: Doctor in Texas fears New York scenario, as coronavirus patient numbers steadily climb
  • Date: 7th July 2020
  • Summary: HOUSTON, TEXAS, UNITED STATES (JULY 6, 2020) (REUTERS) (SOUNDBITE) (English) PULMONOLOGIST AND CHIEF MEDICAL DIRECTOR AT UNITED MEMORIAL MEDICAL CENTER, JOSEPH VARON, SAYING: "It's a very uncomfortable situation. I mean, uncomfortable because we're running out of beds. We have a lot of issues with getting personnel to help and patients keep on coming every single day."
  • Embargoed: 21st July 2020 21:36
  • Keywords: COVID-19 Dr. Joseph Varon Houston ICU Tanna Ingraham Texas coronavirus
  • Location: HOUSTON, TEXAS, UNITED STATES
  • City: HOUSTON, TEXAS, UNITED STATES
  • Country: USA
  • Topics: Health/Medicine
  • Reuters ID: LVA006CLTAUYV
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: The Chief Medical Director of United Memorial Medical Center (UMMC) in Houston, Texas has a grim prediction for the city, as the number of coronavirus cases continues to soar.
    Dr. Joseph Varon, who is also a pulmonologist, told Reuters, "We're probably going to end up being what New York was two months ago. I think that's what's going to happen. And that is going to happen, particularly because we had the Fourth of July holiday, and a lot of people did not listen."
    On Tuesday (July 7), Texas registered an all-time high in coronavirus hospitalizations for the eighth day in a row, up more than 500 admissions from the day before to nearly 8,700.
    Dr Varon says hospital beds are at 90 percent capacity.
    "It's a very uncomfortable situation. I mean, uncomfortable because we're running out of beds. We have a lot of issues with getting personnel to help out and patients keep on coming every single day," he said.
    The Hispanic community makes up 42 percent of Houston cases, and the Houston Health Department has launched a targeted education campaign on ways to prevent the spread of coronavirus.
    Dr. Varon is calling for people of color to go to hospitals before it's too late.
    "The rationale is if they go to the hospital, they're going to die. That's what they think. Others think that if they go to the hospital, they're going to catch the corona," said Varon. "The best thing to tell people is, look, we now have treatment options for coronavirus. At our hospital we use the MATH+ protocol, which is a protocol that includes cortisone, includes a blood thinner, includes vitamin C and thiamin. And we have an amazing success rate. But if it's successful, if you go to the hospital, early, as early as you can, the earlier we start you on therapy, the better your chances of leaving the hospital," he said.
    Tanna Ingraham has been an ICU nurse for 17 years. Last week, she went from caring for COVID-19 patients at UMMC to being a patient herself, after testing positive to the virus.
    "I literally, at one point in time, asked God to take me. The pain was ridiculous. It was simple. I mean, in my mind, I couldn't breathe." said Ingraham.
    Ingraham spent 11 days in the ICU and is now slowly recovering at home.
    "I'm still having symptoms like right now. It's very hard for me to talk," said Ingraham, becoming emotional.
    Ingraham says as soon as she's well enough, she'll be back in the ICU on the frontlines.
    "As a nurse, my main concern is manpower. It's this virus is, it's wicked. It's tricky and it's evil. I'm saying that because I was fine two days before I got sick and I literally, two days after that was praying, God, just take me because I can't handle this anymore," said Ingraham.
    (Production: Norma Galeana)
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2020. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
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