Phoebe officials say COVID-19 cases more than tripled in July

ALBANY, Ga. – Over the last seven days the Phoebe Health System has admitted COVID-19 patients in all of their hospitals for the first time in three months.

“It’s well recognized right now the number of COVID-19 cases on a daily basis, and weekly basis are continuing to go up at this point,” says Phoebe’s Chief Medical Officer Dr. Steven Kitchen. 

In June, Phoebe admitted 47 COVID-19 patients and that number nearly quadrupled in July. Resulting in a total of 176 patients with serious coronavirus symptoms. 

To this day, 169 Dougherty County Residents have died from the disease.

14 in July alone. And Dr. Kitchen says there’s no signs showing that virus transmission is slowing.

“Unfortunately, individuals who are infectious in transmitting the virus to others have little to  no symptoms. This virus has the propensity to be spread when people are unknowingly are infected and I think that’s certainly the phenomenon that we’re seeing in our community.” 

Kitchen urges those that can stay home to do so because according to him, it’s not going anywhere anytime soon.

“In terms of therapies there’s simply no silver bullet at this time.”

People might have to get used to this new normal until a vaccine is available.

“There’s over 60 potential vaccines that are being looked at this point and there’s a handful that are showing very significant promise.”

So what can people do until then? Dr. Kitchen says, “I think we can truly go on and lead our lives if collectively we take some measures which are socially responsible.”