BROWN COUNTY, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) – Hospital beds are filling up across the nation and right here in Northeast Wisconsin; RSV, COVID-19 and the Flu are all having an impact.
RSV, COVID-19 and the Flu are all filling hospital beds across the nation and right here in Northeast Wisconsin Dec. 7, 2022. (WLUK)
At Bellin Health in Green Bay, officials are reporting about a 20% increase in demand for emergency department services above normal conditions.
“We are seeing a lot of kids particularly impacted by RSV. Influenza is doubling week over week right now with strong growth in the number of cases. There’s around 500 patients hospitalized across the state with COVID-19,” says emergency physician at Bellin Health, Dr. Brad Burmeister.
And Burmeister tells FOX 11 many other local hospitals are also being impacted.
“Things are sort of tight right now. There is space available for patients who need it but… that means that patients might have to wait just a little longer to see their primary care physician, a little bit longer at urgent care or in the emergency department.”
To avoid longer wait times, Burmeister says schedule a virtual visit when possible. Those are available seven days a week.
Burmeister says over the last week, they have seen influenza cases grow, and RSV cases plateau.
Despite the rise in virus cases, Green Bay resident Shawn Smith says he still plans to celebrate the holidays with family.
“Everyone was kind of apart from each other the last few years with COVID and everything and keeping their distance, especially with my older family members with my grandma and stuff, so I hope to see them this Christmas.”
Stephen Hurst also says he is not worried, especially about COVID-19.
“I’ve had it three times already. I have the vaccines — doesn’t bother me anymore. It’s going to happen if you go outside or not.”
Hurst tells FOX 11 his holiday traditions will be the same.
“Family, church, celebrate with people, crowds, can’t be afraid to go out.”
“You know, I don’t think that people necessarily need to worry or be afraid about getting a virus,” says Burmeister.
Burmeister says the main way to avoid getting sick, is being vaccinated.
“It appears we are slightly behind where we had been the last couple of years with influenza vaccines across our entire population,” says Burmeister.
He says also to wash your hands, stay home when you are sick and wear a mask if needed.
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