OMAHA, Neb. (KMTV) — On Tuesday, CHI Health CEO Cliff Robertson, MD hosted his weekly update on the health system's staffing and capacity as COVID-19 cases rise in the area and provided an update on the system's preparedness for the forthcoming vaccine.
To start things off, Robertson said CHI is working with state officials and is prepared to dispense a vaccine once it is delivered.
When it comes to capacity, Robertson said CHI is ready to handle more COVID-19 patients due to dialing back some non-urgent procedures.
At this point, CHI’s labs are seeing a positivity rate of about 30 percent which is about on par with Douglas County as a whole. To drive that rate down, Robertson says medical experts need to continue educating the public on the benefit of wearing masks, socially distancing and practicing good hand hygiene.
When asked if a statewide mask mandate should be put in place he said, “I think we all clearly need to communicate the value that masking brings,” and suggested that a mandate may present other problems.
"I think a mask mandate...you know…again ends up creating other issues and creates maybe some pushback that's unnecessary. I think what we should really do personally is just continue to hammer the message that masks help," Dr. Robertson said.
3 News Now Reporter Ruta Ulcinaite provided live updates on Twitter.
CHI Health has been working with the state and are prepared to dispense a vaccine once it is delivered. #Pfizervaccine
— Ruta Ulcinaite KMTV (@RutaUlcinaite) November 10, 2020
Robertson: Because of planning, CHI hospitals are okay with capacity. Dialing back some non-urgent procedures.
— Ruta Ulcinaite KMTV (@RutaUlcinaite) November 10, 2020
Robertson: CHI lab has around a 30% positivity rate. That's about the same rate that all of Douglas County has.
— Ruta Ulcinaite KMTV (@RutaUlcinaite) November 10, 2020
Robertson on what will happen if trends continue: Might be more cases but people will be in and out of the hospital. There's enough room and if the public increases precautions cases should go back down.
— Ruta Ulcinaite KMTV (@RutaUlcinaite) November 10, 2020
Robertson: COVID is not a political issue, it's a medical issue.
— Ruta Ulcinaite KMTV (@RutaUlcinaite) November 10, 2020
Statewide mask mandate?
— Ruta Ulcinaite KMTV (@RutaUlcinaite) November 10, 2020
CHI Health CEO Robertson: "I think we all clearly need to communicate the value that masking brings." But says mask mandates create other issues, creates pushback.