News
SMH: Doctors concerned about case increase
Sheridan Memorial Hospital is performing 65 – 70 tests for COVID-19 per day. Although that has been a consistent number for weeks, the positivity rate of those tests is concerning doctors.
The number of tests being performed at SMH accounts for only a percentage of tests performed in Sheridan County, a point made by SMH CEO Mike McCafferty during a leadership meeting on Oct. 21.
According to the Sheridan County website, testing is also available at Hospital Pharmacy West and Sugarland Walk-In Urgent Care Clinic. The Sheridan VA Medical Center also offers testing to veterans who are enrolled in VA health care and meet the CDC testing criteria.
But it’s not the number of tests administered that has Chief Medical Officer Dr. John Addlesperger and his team concerned, it’s the positivity rate.
For those who test positive, SMH has been making patients aware of ongoing studies being conducted at the University of Minnesota and Duke University. These clinical trials are not being conducted by SMH, but patients that meet criteria can take part in the studies remotely.
According to COVID-19 Public Information Officer Jennifer Graves, Sheridan County has added 16 lab confirmed cases in the last 24 hours. Sheridan County has now had 3,969 lab confirmed cases since the beginning of the pandemic. The county has also added six probable cases in the last 24 hours, bringing that total to 1,171.
There are currently 267 active cases of the virus in the Sheridan County community.
On Oct. 20, it was reported that two individuals in Sheridan County died from COVID-19 who did not have any underlying medical conditions, bringing the total death toll of the virus to 47 Sheridan County residents.
Currently 14 COVID-19 patients are hospitalized in Sheridan County with two of those in the Intensive Care Unit and one on a ventilator.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention list Sheridan County’s level of community transmission as HIGH.
To schedule a booster vaccination or a first round of vaccinations, click here.
More COVID-19 information is available at www.sheridancounty.com/covid-19/.
Paul Huson
October 21, 2021 at 3:57 pm
How many cases of the flu and pneumonia has Sheridan county experienced so far this year?
Jennifer
October 21, 2021 at 8:03 pm
I hope the doctors are just as concerned about the mental health of the counties children as well. Sadly people will die. We must learn to live with this. One would think that with herd immunity and people getting vaccinated that we will turn the corner. #Florida
Mark Steingass
October 22, 2021 at 3:32 pm
There will never be “herd immunity” as long as new variants continue to occur in the population…and new variants are more likely to occur with lower vaccination rates throughout the population…if you are really concerned about the mental health of children…have them “mask up” to slow down the spread of Covid…because “masking” is much less traumatic for kids than enduring the death of a parent, guardian or relative
Mark Steingass
October 22, 2021 at 6:19 am
Paul…local hospital caseload concerns are from Covid case overload…that’s why SMH services were shut down for six weeks and curtailed…The Rock Springs hospital in Sweetwater County had an even more serious problem because of Covid patient overload…the Rock Springs hospital is “overwhelmed”…Campbell county has a 24% vaccination rate…they are preparing for a covid “case overload”…ask your personal physician what the greater health problem is in Wyoming hospitals…flu and pneumonia? or covid?…I think we all know the answer…but ask anyway