Boone Hospital Center will rely on guidance, data to resume normal operations
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)
Boone Hospital Center said it will take time before the hospital is able to return to normal operations.
The hospital, along with many others in the region, has implemented limits on visitors and ended elective surgeries amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Additionally, there are heightened health screenings for staff and patients.
Dr. Robin Blount, the chief medical officer at Boone Hospital Center, said they are relying on guidance from local, state and federal health departments before rolling back any of those changes.
"We have to make sure when we make changes back in the other direction that they’re done as safe as possible to diminish chances of a new surge or other issues like that," Blount said.
Missouri is projected to reach its peak use of hospital resources on April 25.
Blount said antibody testing of mid-Missourians will help the decision. Federal officials are rolling out the testing to identify people who have already had the coronavirus unknowingly. However, antibody testing could be weeks away.
"We don’t really know how much silent COVID has been here," Blount said. "It’s really necessary to have herd immunity."
Meanwhile, Blount said Missourians should continue to abide by the stay-at-home and social distancing orders. The hospital will keep its COVID-19 policies in place before gradually easing up on restrictions.
Though neither government officials nor hospitals can predict the exact date, Blount expects things to normalize in the near future.
"Hopefully, within a few weeks, a month, you can start making those baby steps," she said.
With the peak likely to hit near the end of April, Missouri will soon be on the tail end of the curve. But even then, Blount said several weeks should pass before making big changes.
The coronavirus is also here to stay.
With any new virus or disease, health officials need to take extra precautions because of the unknown nature of the virus, Blount said. That does not necessarily mean the same stay-at-home orders and restrictions will go into place every time there is an outbreak in the future.
