LANSING, Mich.(WLNS) — A hospital in mid-Michigan made historical past with its one millionth COVID-19 check. College of Michigan Well being-Sparrow celebrated an essential medical second throughout the group Friday afternoon.
John Baker, laboratory director on the hospital, says Sparrow was one of many first medical clinics in Michigan to supply COVID-19 testing to sufferers.
“And at the peak, we were doing some days almost 5,000 tests a day,” mentioned Baker.
He says the hospital does about 250 COVID-19 exams a day because of the excessive respiratory season.
“Earlier in the pandemic, supplies and testing equipment were in very short supply,” mentioned Baker.
Baker says the one-millionth check is an achievement for the hospital when many individuals had been affected by the sickness.
“We could only do a certain number of tests a day, and we divided that capacity between ourselves,” mentioned Baker. “Some for the state health department, and other hospitals in the area.”
Viviana Saez, an Infectious Specialist at Sparrow says now there are about 10 COVID sufferers on the hospital.
An enormous distinction from the beginning of the pandemic.
“It was probably about tenfold,” mentioned Saez. “We could have several full units full of just COVID-positive patients.”
Saez says respiratory diseases are excessive in Michigan now.
She urges Michiganders to further precautions to maintain themselves and others protected.
“Well first wash your hands,” mentioned Saez. “Cover your cough if you’re having any respiratory symptoms, and if you’re sick experiencing fevers and coughs, and cold symptoms. Stay home until you’re better.”
Saez says COVID-19 instances are lowering throughout the state, whereas the flu is on the rise.
