As the Mount St. John’s Medical Centre (MSJMC) has confirmed that an elderly man is the country’s latest Covid-19 related fatality, the hospital’s chief is lamenting the strain increased cases is having on the facility.
A release from the hospital indicated that the 65-year-old patient was admitted to the hospital on January 23, 2021 in severe respiratory distress.
Reports from the hospital indicate that the patient’s disease process was complicated by several comorbidities and his health continued to deteriorate adding that the man had to be placed on a ventilator seven days after he had been admitted.
The release said further that despite our medical team’s best efforts to save him, the patient died of complications of COVID-19 on February 8, 2021.
MSJMC Medical Director, Dr Albert Duncan, said, “Another family and community are mourning the death of a loved one – and we too are saddened and offer our deepest sympathy.”
He added, “Our hospital is doing everything we can to stay ahead of the coronavirus surge in the community which inevitably leads to more hospitalized COVID-19 patients.”
Dr Duncan, said that the hospital has not been under this much pressure from Covid-19 since the start of the pandemic.
“This is worrisome,” Dr Duncan said. “This is what will put everything – all healthcare – related to COVID-19 or not – at risk if the infection rate does not slow down.”
The Medical Director added, “Since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic we have asked a lot of the public and many of you have been understanding and patient and we are immensely grateful.
The correspondence from the hospital stated further that the Covid-19 risk to the country still remains as their continues to be a rises in cases across the country, with members of the MSJMC team and their families also affected.
The missive warns that it is critically important that residents remain vigilant.
“Increased testing is great but testing alone is not sufficient in keeping this pandemic at bay. Don’t drop your guard because of a negative test result. Mask wearing, physical distancing and other preventive behaviors are still crucial,” the release added.
The Mount St. John’s Medical Centre is reminding the public of the continuing importance of COVID-19 precautions. For persons who believe they may have COVID-19, they are asked to take these steps:
- Stay away from other people to avoid spreading the virus – and contact your doctor, especially if you have a high-risk underlying health condition.
- Call the COVID Hotline at 46-COVID (462-6843) for guidance. If they determine you need to be tested, they will coordinate with the appropriate public health officials to determine next steps.
- Call 911If you are having a medical emergency, such as difficulty breathing. Notify the 911 operator that you have, or think you might have, COVID-19.
Please keep in mind the important safety measures that have been scientifically-proven to reduce the spread of COVID-19, including:
- Wearing a mask
- Practicing social distancing
- Avoiding large gatherings
- Practicing good hand hygiene
