Despite rise in cases, patient outcomes improving, AdventHealth doctors say

During AdventHealth's Morning Briefing Thursday, June 25, Dr. Vincent Hsu, an epidemiologist and AdventHealth’s infection control officer, and Dr. Eduardo Oliveira, executive medical director of critical care, spoke about the increase in COVID-19 cases in Florida, the impact on the community and the latest in science. 

“As the number of cases increase in the community, we are seeing that also in our hospitals,” Hsu said. “We are unfortunately at an all-time high with respect to hospitalizations, but we are well-prepared to handle this. We are not in crisis mode. We want to do what we can in the community to keep these cases as low as possible.”

Although COVID infection numbers are rising in Florida, the death rate is not, suggesting health professionals may be getting a better handle on the treatment of the virus.

“We have more availability of treatments now, and we’ve learned more advanced ways of treating those patients,” Oliveira said. “The younger population tends to be more resilient. They have less co-morbidities, other illnesses or diseases that tend to make the virus more lethal.”

Both doctors emphasized that wearing masks, practicing proper social distancing, and making smart decisions with regard to personal and community health are essential in the battle against COVID-19.