Hospital President Worried About Spike In Cases

Breken Terry talked to the President of Helen Keller Hospital after the number of coronavirus cases in the Shoals tripled in two weeks.

For joining us tonight.

I'm najahe sherman.

>> and i'm dan schafer.

Tonight we start with a dire warning from the president.

He says we are not out of the woods and believes we are in the thick of the fight against coronavirus.

This is after the number of cases in the shoals tripled in just two weeks.

>> waay 31's breck joins us from helen keller hospital with his warning.

>> in this email i obtained from the president of helen keller hospital, kyle buchanan, he told leaders in the shoals community they needed to take extreme caution in the coming days and weeks in order to prevent an outbreak here in the local community.

>> so we will encounter individuals who are here and receive a covid-19 positive test.

>> today we saw firsthand when burns nursing and rehab center in russellville confirmed it has 48 cases of coronavirus.

Hell ebb keller hospital president kyle buchanan said they're seeing more coronavirus patients too.

>> as we have conversations with them to possibly understand how they contracted it, they have no clue.

>> buchanan said he is most concerned about the last 13 days.

Not only are more coronavirus patients admitted.

Some are in critical condition.

>> several times they're facing difficult decisions with their family and are becoming increasingly sick without any idea of how they contracted the disease.

So it's extremely difficult.

>> and it's why buchanan is stressing no one can let their guard down no, matter what you think the numbers may say.

>> we understand the infections have lessened in the shoals area.

And today we're seeing that has not happened to the degree that any of us are comfortable.

So take that in mind as you move forward and developing your city fans and business plans so everyone can remain safe.

>> now, buchanan told me if you must be out and about, wearing a mask can help or stop you from spreading what you may have to other people, especially because we know that some people have asymptomatic symptoms which means they don't have any or don't have any signs of symptoms. and he also said washing your hands and not becoming complicit in sanitizing and things like that and basically staying on your toes because we're not done with this will help prevent and hopefully an outbreak here in the