Vital hospital scenario in Texas because of storms 27:14
. – Whereas most Texans had so much to fret about with final week’s freezing storm that led to energy outages and water issues, some, like Tania Delacruz, had an extra downside: Covid-19.
For Delacruz, it began with physique aches earlier than the storm. Then, on the coldest evening in South Texas, her oxygen ranges dropped as her temperature rose.
“It was fairly unhealthy, as a result of regardless that you attempt to cowl your self with all of the blankets you could find, it was nonetheless chilly,” he advised CNN from his mattress on the United Memorial Medical Heart (UMMC) in Houston, the place he arrived final week.
And the colder it bought, the more severe the coughing suits, he stated.
Cornelio López was recovering from covid-19 at dwelling, with oxygen, when the electrical energy went out after which the batteries in the oxygen machine ran out.
With out oxygen, it simply goes to the bottom, López, who’s from Oaxaca, Mexico, advised CNN in Spanish. Now he’s recovering at UMMC.
Sandra Aguirre’s household sought heat in a resort, whereas she, sick with covid-19, was hospitalized.
Three different members of the family even have Covid-19.
“I used to be right here and all I may do was fear about my kids,” she stated.
Final week’s winter storm affected your complete state of Texas, leaving a minimum of 29 individuals useless in the state and tens of millions with out energy in the freezing chilly for days.
Whereas the UMMC is seeing fewer COVID-19 sufferers not too long ago as instances decline throughout the nation, healthcare suppliers say they’re involved that instances will quickly spike once more after individuals meet with others and in shelters to maintain heat final week.
“Lots of people bought collectively,” stated Dr. Joseph Varon, UMMC medical director. “They didn’t care concerning the covid.”
“We had a variety of shelters open to maintain individuals heat, and you recognize {that a} shelter is a big petri dish,” stated Varon, “so I hope that in the following few days we can have a small improve in the variety of instances.” .
Individuals have been additionally speeding to {hardware} shops and supermarkets earlier than the storm, and all social distancing guidelines have been forgotten, he stated.
UMMC was amongst many Texas hospitals that have been with out energy after which with out water final week.
“The storm was completely devastating. It was chaotic to say the least, ”stated Varon. Once they ran out of water, “we thought we have been going to get assist from different hospitals, however they have been in precisely the identical place as us.”
The hospital couldn’t use its working room and a few nurses have been there for 4 and 5 days in a row, he stated.
5 members of the Board of Administrators of the Electrical Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT), together with the president and vice chairman, resigned Tuesday, acknowledging “the ache and struggling of Texans” throughout energy outages.
ERCOT President and CEO Invoice Magness stated Wednesday that the storm not solely elevated demand throughout the state on the similar time, but additionally affected all sorts of energy technology.
“This affected the system throughout the board due to the depth and period of the climate we noticed,” Magness stated.
CNN’s Rosalina Nieves contributed to this report.
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