Phoebe Reports COVID-19 Numbers

Tuesday, January 25, 2022 @ 12:15 p.m. -

Albany, Ga. - As of Tuesday morning, these were Phoebe's COVID-19 numbers:

• Total COVID-19 Patients in Phoebe Putney Memorial Hospital - 153
• Total COVID-19 Patients in Phoebe Sumter Medical Center - 32
• Total COVID-19 Patients in Phoebe Worth Medical Center - 7
• Total Inpatients Recovered - 3,669
• Total Positive Deaths from Phoebe Putney Memorial Hospital - 420
• Total Positive Deaths from Phoebe Sumter - 111
• Total Positive Deaths from Phoebe Worth - 1
• Total Vaccines Administered - 78,267

Today, Phoebe is caring for more COVID-19 patients than at any point during the initial pandemic surge almost two years ago when southwest Georgia was one of the worst virus hotspots in the world. The current COVID-19 inpatient total of 192 is higher than the first peak of 184 patients on April 9, 2020, and it is only 22 shy of Phoebe's record number of COVID-19 patients set on August 21, 2021 at the height of the delta surge.

"We hope we are nearing the peak of this latest onslaught of COVID cases, but the numbers show we're just not there yet. We continue to admit a high number of COVID patients every day, and the positivity rate of those we are testing in our outpatient clinics and our emergency centers remains high. That tells us the virus is still spreading rapidly in our communities," said Scott Steiner, Phoebe Putney Health System President & CEO. "This variant remains a serious threat to public health, and people should treat it as such."

The Georgia Department of Public Health (DPH) lists the current risk assessment and positivity rate in southwest Georgia counties as "high," which is the top level. DPH restarted COVID-19 testing in Worth County this week and is providing free testing at many county health departments. You can call the department in your county for hours of operation and to set an appointment. Phoebe is providing limited COVID-19 testing at its urgent and primary clinics, though an office visit fee may apply.

Phoebe has also seen an increase in the number of patients requiring critical care. "Last Thursday, we had 33 COVID-19 patients in our intensive care units. Today, we are up to 46 ICU patients," said Dianna Grant, MD, Phoebe Putney Health System Chief Medical Officer. "Those who contract COVID are much more likely to endure only mild symptoms and to avoid hospitalization if they are fully vaccinated and boosted, but this variant is still causing severe illness in many patients, particularly those who are not vaccinated."

Vaccine appointments at Phoebe locations can be made by calling 229-312-MYMD.