COVID Patients Left The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center Heading To Nationwide Children's

By: Taylor J.

The Center for Disease Control (CDC) reported on Aug 19, 2020, that COVID-19 hospitalization surveillance data shows that the rate of hospitalization among children is low (8.0 per 100,000 population) compared with that in adults (164.5 per 100,000 population). However, hospitalization rates in children are steadily increasing. In Franklin County, officials reported over 51,000 COVID-19 cases, which included children and adults. Due to the increase of COVID-19 patients, some hospitals in the Central Ohio area have an overflow. As parents grapple with how to keep their children safe during the pandemic, the Central Ohio community is outraged with concern about the action of The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center sending patents confirmed with COVID-19 to Nationwide Children's Hospital due to overflow issues.

The supervisor of the region's COVID-19 hospital surge plans, Dr. Andrew Thomas, is in partnership with other area hospitals and the Ohio Department of Health. Thomas, as the chief clinical officer at The Ohio State's Wexner Medical Center, shared with the Columbus Dispatch on October 20, 2020, "despite increases in hospitalizations, most hospitals still have capacity to take in COVID-19 patients. Hospitals are 'preparing for the worst case scenario' as they watch cases continue to tick up. Central Ohio hospitals previously prepared to use the Greater Columbus Convention Center for COVID-19 overflow." However, shortly after, Thomas said that was "unnecessary at this point."

Nationwide Children's Hospital representatives indicate they will take proper steps to separate the Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center COVID-19 patience from the children attending the hospital while serving the youth of Central Ohio and educating the public on symptoms and solutions to combat COVID-19.

Health officials want individuals experiencing any of the listed health issues to contact their physician immediately:

• Fever or chills

• Cough

• Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing

• Fatigue

• Muscle or body aches

• Headache

• New loss of taste or smell

• Sore throat

• Congestion or runny nose

• Nausea or vomiting

• Diarrhea

• Trouble breathing

• Persistent pain or pressure in the chest

• New confusion

• Inability to wake or stay awake

• Bluish lips or face

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