Pocono Lake Region, PA Covid-19 Update

George Schmitt speaks with Milford Mayor Sean Strub and Infectious Disease Specialist Dr. Doug Manion about COVID updates in Milford

This week Dr. Cruse provides his final update and a recap of COVID-19 cases in Wayne County and the surrounding region.

George Schmitt speaks with Milford Mayor Sean Strub and Infectious Disease Specialist Dr. Doug Manion about COVID updates in Milford

This week Dr. Cruse talks about seeing the lowest numbers we've had since the end of July. Cases are really down and we are in what the CDC considers low community transmission and no longer recommends routine masking. He reminds us that we should still wear a mask if we are sick or have had a Covid exposure. He also reports that Wayne Memorial Community Health Centers have received the new Pfizer pill Paxlovid that can be used to treat Covid in the first five days of symptom onset. He talks in details about the risk benefits and data. We now have numerous treatments available for Covid.

George Schmitt speaks with Infectious Disease Specialist Dr. Doug Manion about COVID updates in Milford

This week Dr. Cruse discusses the improving numbers here, but deaths are still occurring. The pandemic is not over. He discusses the CDC's new mask guidance. He also discusses a more definitive randomized controlled on Ivermectin that showed no benefit and possible harm from using Ivermectin to treat COVID

George Schmitt speaks with Milford Mayor Sean Strub and Infectious Disease Specialist Dr. Doug Manion about COVID updates in Milford

This week Dr. Cruse talks about the improving but still high numbers here. He talks about Wallenpaupack school district ending their mask mandate which he thinks is a little too soon. He also talks about a new monoclonal antibody therapy called Evusheld that is is available at Wayne Memorial Community Health Centers to prevent COVID infection in people with severe immune suppression such that they are unlikely to get adequate protection from the vaccine, or for people that are allergic to the vaccine. However it does carry significant cardiac risk and should be used in caution and people at high risk for heart disease.

Adam Owens speaks with Milford Mayor Sean Strub and Infectious Disease Specialist Dr. Doug Manion about COVID updates in Milford

This week Dr. Cruse gives a brief update on COVID in the area

George Schmitt speaks with Infectious Disease Specialist Dr. Doug Manion about COVID updates in Milford

This week Dr. Cruse talks about improving numbers here but points out that it's improving only because it has been so bad. We still have some of the highest numbers of the pandemic right now. 35% of all cases of the pandemic and 12% of all deaths have occurred in the past two months. Things are looking better, but it definitely isn't over yet.

George Schmitt speaks with Milford Mayor Sean Strub and Infectious Disease Specialist Dr. Doug Manion about COVID updates in Milford

This week Dr Cruse gets personal and talks about his recent experience with COVID in his family. He reminds us that the statistics he reviews every week are human beings not numbers. The pandemic is not over. Wear your mask and get your vaccine.

George Schmitt speaks with and Infectious Disease Specialist Dr. Doug Manion about COVID updates in Milford

This week Dr. Cruse reviews the numbers which are very high still but seem to be peaking. Hospitalizations and deaths are still high from Omicron. He reports that the vaccine mandate for healthcare will go into affect for Wayne Memorial Community Health Centers and Wayne Memorial Hospital this week. They hope to get more free home test kits this week. He also talks about returning to a new normal with vaccines, masking, home testing and isolation, and treatments for those at higher risk.

George Schmitt speaks with Milford Mayor Sean Strub and Infectious Disease Specialist Dr. Doug Manion about COVID updates in Milford

This week Dr. Cruse talks about the very high cases here and around the country. Also hospitalizations and deaths are increasing with Omicron. He discusses the two new pills to treat COVID. Molnupiravir by Merck and Paxlovid by Pfizer. He focuses on Molnupiravir because they are getting that this week at Wayne Memorial Community Health Centers. There is significantly concern about it causing birth defects and should be used with caution in women of childbearing years. He also reports that the community health centers will be getting more at home test kits to give out to the public. Check Wayne Memorial Hospital's Facebook page for their availability.

George Schmitt speaks with Milford Mayor Sean Strub and Infectious Disease Specialist Dr. Doug Manion about COVID updates in Milford

This week Dr. Cruse talks about the incredibly high number of cases in Wayne and Pike county. There have been 1800 cases in the past week which is 11% of all of our cases of the entire pandemic. Omicron is spreading like wildfire. While it is milder than Delta, it is not mild and is leading to hospitalizations and deaths. It is affecting younger kids and toddlers more. This week Dr. Cruse also talks about the current monoclonal antibody infusion they are giving at Wayne Memorial Hospital and Wayne Memorial Community Health Centers.

George Schmitt speaks with Milford Mayor Sean Strub and Infectious Disease Specialist Dr. Doug Manion about COVID updates in Milford

This week Dr. Cruse talks about record breaking case counts across the country. He goes into a more in-depth analysis of studies on Omicron Variant. He also reviews new CDC guidance on isolation of those infected with Covid being shortened to five days. Omicron is definitely affecting people with prior Covid infection as well as vaccinated but not boosted individuals. If you've not gotten your booster you really need it.

George Schmitt speaks with Dr. Doug Manion about COVID updates in Milford

This week Dr. Cruse discusses very high and still increasing numbers here. He addresses some peoples concern that the numbers are being inflated. He reviews the data on all positive test done to the community health centers and they account for around half of all numbers reported in Wayne in Pike county. Their numbers do not include numbers from testing done through the ER or hospitalized patients or done by providers that are not part of the community health centers or done outside of the Wayne Memorial system. Therefore the states numbers are very consistent with what they're seeing in their office numbers. He reports that 36% of their cases are currently in the under 18 year old category. He also discusses monoclonal antibody treatment, indications, risks and benefit. They are now doing that through the outpatient clinics. He also reminds us of Omicron spread and concern for holiday gatherings. Stay safe.

George Schmitt speaks with Dr. Doug Manion and Milford Mayor Sean Strub about COVID updates in Milford

This week Dr. Cruse talks about continued high numbers here and strain on our healthcare system. He discusses numbers in the schools and particular that Delaware Valley school district had to close one day last week due to cases in bus drivers. Delaware Valley, which has a looser masking policy has a higher rate of Covid cases among students and staff than the districts with stricter policies. He believes that we should continue with masking in schools in January, with a tiered approach to loosening mask requirements. He also discusses more data on Omicron spread, increased contagiousness and vaccine resistance. He recommends boosters and all adults six months after their second dose.

George Schmitt speaks with Dr. Doug Manion and Milford Mayor Sean Strub about COVID updates in Milford

Dr. Cruse informs us that this past week was the second highest case count here of the entire pandemic. Based on last year's pattern he expects things will get worse from here. The rate of cases and deaths are very high. The hospital is still overwhelmed and is running short on some Covid treatments. He also discusses the Omicron variant. It is in the US and is in Pennsylvania, but not in our area yet that we know of. Preliminary data shows that it is much more contagious, but less deadly than the Delta variant. Still he discusses that high transmissibility even with lower virulence (deadliness) can lead to higher deaths overall. Get your vaccine, wear your mask, and avoid large holiday gatherings.

George Schmitt speaks with Dr. Doug Manion and Milford Mayor Sean Strub about COVID updates in Milford

this week Dr. Cruse talked about how numbers are still very high here. They are lower than the week before but he feels that is due to less testing and delay on data collection over the Thanksgiving holiday. He feels the number will be very high next week. He discusses studies on transmissibility versus vaccine resistance and that transmissibility has a much larger impact on the pandemic than vaccine resistant does, and the combination of both can be catastrophic. The omicron variant recently discovered in South Africa is extremely concerning because it has both characteristics and particularly may be five times more transmissible than delta. However vaccines do still work and masks definitively work. So get your vaccine and wear your mask, this may be a long ride.

George Schmitt speaks with Dr. Doug Manion and Milford Mayor Sean Strub about COVID updates in Milford

This week Dr. Cruse discusses the dramatic surge in cases locally to one of the highest case counts of the entire pandemic. He also reports that 25% of all deaths in Wayne in Pike County during the entire pandemic have occurred in the past two months. He discusses Thanksgiving and travel safety. He also discusses lifting the mask mandates in schools, now that the decision is returning to local school boards. He feels that with vaccines now approved in children down to age 5 that it is much more achievable. However with 32% of our cases in children under 18, the overall spike in cases here and the high death toll currently that this is not yet the time to end school masking.

George Schmitt speaks with Dr. Doug Manion and Milford Mayor Sean Strub about COVID updates in Milford

This week Dr. Cruse reports that cases are increasing here, in Pennsylvania, and nationwide. He discusses a major spike that is now occurring in Europe and may predict what will happen here as the weather turns colder. He reviews data on vaccination versus natural infection versus both. He also discusses the upcoming change in state wide mask mandate requirements. He strongly recommend school districts take a data driven approach, where they decide on mask mandates based upon local community transmission and not on public opinion. He encourages then following the data and being willing to change strategies based upon community and school transmission. This decision of school boards affects the entire community

George Schmitt speaks with Dr. Doug Manion about COVID updates in Milford

This week Dr. Cruse tells us that the Covid numbers here are still bad. Last week saw probably the highest death toll here of the entire pandemic, 20% of all of the deaths in Wayne and Pike County during the entire pandemic have happened in the past six weeks. The Pfizer vaccine has been approved for 5 to 11 year olds and Wayne Memorial community health centers started vaccinating them this past weekend. He also discusses the vaccine mandate rules for companies with over 100 employees and for healthcare workers. Get your vaccine.

George Schmitt speaks with Dr. Doug Manion

This week Dr. Cruse reports that cases are down a little here but at 224 cases per 100,000 people per week, they are 10 times higher than in June. He discusses safety and effectiveness of masking in school children and some of the studies on that. He reports that they are analyzing the numbers in schools with strict masking policy versus looser masking policy and if that affects the number of cases in children. He hopes to have real data on that soon so that we can make good informed decisions based on it. He also discusses the recommendation from the FDA advisory committee that the vaccine be approved in 5 to 11 year olds. It is not yet available but hopefully will be within a week.

Update on getting ready for Halloween in Milford

This week Dr. Cruse tells us that numbers are still high here. The big news is the hospital is overwhelmed, with the hospital full, the ER full and diverting patients. The medical workers here are overworked and burn out. Please get your vaccine, wear your mask, and do all the things we know prevents Covid transmission. He also discusses that Johnson and Johnson and Moderna boosters were approved and how to get yours.

George Schmitt talks to Shawn Strub and Dr. Doug Manion

This week Dr. Cruse updates us on the still high level of cases in Wayne in Pike County and how that is putting a strain on the hospital system here. Pennsylvania is one of six states that still has increasing cases. Also transmission in school age kids is very high and we are seeing more kids sick with Covid than at anytime during the pandemic. He reviews data on the recommendation by the FDA advisory committee on Johnson and Johnson boosters. They did recommend boosters for both Johnson and Johnson and Moderna, however that still has to go to the full FDA and CDC this week for final approval. We should know by the end of the week and be able to start scheduling Moderna and Johnson and Johnson boosters next week. He reminds us how to schedule boosters through Wayne Memorial Community Health Centers.

Adam Owens speaks with Dr. Doug Manion

This week Dr. Cruse reports that despite improving numbers across the country, the pandemic is worsening here with increasing numbers and some of the highest numbers we've seen in the entire pandemic. He reviews that people in the know including doctors, nurses, politicians, and news agencies are vaccinated. He also discusses vaccine misinformation on social media and being skeptical of anything you read on social media. Finally he updates us on Wayne Memorial Community Health Centers vaccine clinics and how to schedule your vaccine or booster.

This week Dr. Cruse reports that even though cases are decreasing across the country, they are not yet decreasing here. He is concerned about new surges in less vaccinated pockets of well vaccinated states and is concerned that we may not have peaked yet. He also reviews the limited information on Merck's pill to treat COVID and reminds it that it is not available yet and is not nearly as effective as vaccines. He also reviews information about COVID vaccine recommendations in pregnant women and that their vaccine team will be at the Midwifery Mingle at the Cooperage on Thursday Oct 7. He gives information about how to sign up for vaccines and boosters at WMH.org or (570)253-8197.

Dr Doug Manion discusses the current status for Pike County and surrounding areas.

Dr Cruse talks about the slight decrease in Covid cases nationwide. Cases are increasing in PA. Pfizer's booster shot is also discussed.

George Schmitt speaks with Sean Strub and Dr. Doug Manion

This week Dr. Cruse talks about continuing increase in cases here and a significant number of cases in school age children since the beginning of the school year. He talks about new strain on the healthcare system here primarily due to burn out of healthcare personnel and staffing shortage. The burden of caring for unvaccinated Covid patients is impacting the healthcare of other patients here Northeast Pennsylvania. He reminds you that if you're not vaccinated you definitely need to wear a mask to decrease transmission and decrease strain on the healthcare system. The choice to not get vaccinated does not just affect you but affects everyone. He also discusses the FD advisory committee recommendation for Pfizer vaccine boosters only in patients over the age of 65, those with underlying health conditions, and people at high risk of contracting Covid such as healthcare workers. This is based upon data showing that even though breakthrough cases are occurring the vaccines are very protective against hospitalization and death. Wayne Memorial is currently doing third doses for immunocompromised patients, but it's not doing these boosters yet. More information will be coming out about when we will start doing boosters and about possible boosters for Moderna and Johnson and Johnson vaccines.

George Schmitt speaks with Dr. Doug Manion and Milford, PA mayor Sean Strub

Dr. James Cruse from Wayne Memorial Community Health Centers updates us on the status of COVID-19 in our area.