Gerald Bryant RN, DNS, Chief Nursing Officer and COO for Lake Charles Memorial Hospital confirms the Delta variant is much more transmissible than the original virus. That is why we are seeing double the hospitalizations across the state. Bryant told our local news that not only are the majority of new COVID cases coming to the E.R. unvaccinated, but they are a lot younger than last year at the beginning of the pandemic. He added, “This is proving to be a disease of the younger,” they are people in their "30s, 40s, and 50s."

Below is a video of a zoom call from Lake Charles Memorial Health System, lead by CEO Devon Hyde, Chief Medical Officer Manley Jordan, MD and Chief Nursing Officer Bryant, RN, DNS. describing the current COVID-19 situation in SWLA.

Please note: Lake Charles Memorial Hospital has a no-cost drive-thru COVID-19 testing center in the emergency parking lot, at the corner of 18th Street and 2nd Avenue. The testing center is open seven days a week 9am to 5pm. Below is a look at the impact of the COVID surge statewide.

Because of the rising cases, LCMH emergency nursing staff is working mandatory shifts with an uptick of 50% more patients per nurse. Dr. Bryant says the hospitals resources are overwhelmed as they struggle to keep up with the influx of people being admitted. He continued, that the physical demand is exhausting " It actually causes a concept of moral distress for our nurses." As a result the entire hospital operational system is under massive strain. Every department is working at a feverish pace.

How can we as a community help these dedicated hero's out? Stopping the spread of the COVID virus is up to all of us. We must work together to end this pandemic. Get tested, get vaccinated, wear a mask and social distance. 

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