Today’s Stats
Lee Health has:
- 142 COVID-19 patients isolated in our hospitals
- Submitted 23,002 specimens for testing
- Discharged 692 patients since the start of the pandemic
- 162 employees quarantined; 14 exposed at work and positive for COVID-19
- Click here for graphs showing a running total of specimens collected for testing and positive cases hospitalized.
Today’s News
A Message from Dr. Larry Antonucci
We are seeing an increasing number of COVID-19 cases in Florida and our community. From our perspective at Lee Health, the most important resources we have to manage this pandemic are our hospital beds, ICU rooms and ventilators. At this time, we can safely meet the needs of our community, and we share information about our hospitals’ capacity with local leaders each day to help them make informed decisions for Southwest Florida.
It is more important than ever, with the number of cases rising in our community, to follow the same safety precautions we at Lee Health have been advocating since the beginning, especially keeping a safe physical distance from others as much as possible, wearing a mask or face covering when we leave our homes and washing our hands. At this point, we must assume that COVID-19 can be spread by asymptomatic carriers, so wearing a mask in public is one of the easiest and safest ways to slow the spread of the virus.
Wearing masks and keeping a safe distance from others must become a normal part of how we live our lives for the foreseeable future. If we embrace the new normal that COVID-19 has taught us to live with, we can ensure that hospitals will continue to have the capacity to save lives and provide safe, compassionate care for all who need it.
We Need Blood Donors
A healthy supply of blood is essential to meet the needs of our patients, and a steady stream of donors is necessary to meet that need. Blood can help multiple patients heal from a range of illnesses or injuries, and Type O is routinely in short supply and high demand because it can be used to treat anyone.
Blood donation remains safe. All donors have their temperature and blood pressure checked before being allowed to donate. All blood collected by Lee Health stays here to care for people in our community. If you are able to donate, please call 343-2333 to make an appointment. Please tell your friends and family that it is safe to donate, too.
Venturing Out? Here’s What to Consider Before You Go
Businesses are reopening and social activities are in full swing, however, that does not mean the pandemic is over. Tips, such as physical distancing and frequently washing your hands, may seem repetitive, but the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) stress that they are more important now than ever. Click here for additional recommendations and guidelines you can use before heading out.
Thank You, Certified Nursing Assistants!
National Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) Week kicked off yesterday, June 18, and goes through Thursday, June 24. We are grateful for our CNAs and thank them for their dedication, hard work and genuine care for our patients, especially at this time.
Join us as we celebrate our CNAs by sharing photos or writing a shout-out on our Facebook post here.
Join Us for Mental Health Mondays
We are continuing the Mental Health Mondays Facebook Live series with Nancy Dauphinais, chief operating officer at David Lawrence Centers, at 2 p.m., Monday, June 22. This Monday’s discussion focuses on managing anxiety in children, and viewers will learn about:
- Risk factors and basic warning signs/topics in Mental Health First Aid
- How to know when to ask for help/get help for a child
- Tips for mindfulness
- Benefits of equine therapy and art therapy
- The impacts of COVID-19 on mental health, and coping skills for children and parents