Hospitals in Metro Detroit are being overwhelmed with patients as COVID cases increase

DETROIT – Emergency departments are overwhelmed with patients in Metro Detroit.

Michigan continues to lead the country in COVID cases, but did see a drop in the number of cases on Saturday.

April 17, 2021: Michigan coronavirus cases to 785,307; The death toll now at 16,840

The state added 5,530 new cases on Saturday.

Lake Huron Medical Center said ambulance traffic will be diverted, but all walk-in traffic will be handled. Port Huron Hospital said it is sending patients to other hospitals.

“One of the biggest concerns we have right now is capacity,” said Dr. Justin Skrzynski.

Dr. Justin Skrzynski helps run the COVID units in Beaumont Royal Oak and said there is no getting around it: “We would say hospitals are about 90-95% full right now,” Skrzynski said.

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READ: Beaumont officials are deeply concerned about staff as Michigan hospitals fill up with COVID patients

That’s because they are seeing more and more positive COVID cases.

“One of the big problems with COVID care is that it simply takes up more space than regular medical care. So you can imagine that when the hospital fills up with COVID patients, they will increasingly crowd out all non-COVID care, ”said Skrzynski.

And they are not the only ones.

“So right now at the Detroit Medical Center, like everyone else, we’ve seen an increase in COVID-positive cases,” said Dr. Patricia Wilkerson-Uddyback.

Detroit Medical Center Uddyback said they are seeing more younger people this time.

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“This population of COVID positive cases is much younger. I would say anywhere from mid-20s, early 30s to 50s, ”said Uddyback. ‘I think people are starting to lower their guards. They are outside, it is getting warmer. We cannot disappoint our guards. “