GREEN BAY (NBC26) -- As local hospitals continue to see high numbers of COVID-19 patients, many are concerned about what the upcoming flu and holiday seasons could do to an already stressed system.
Wisconsin reporteda near-record number of COVID-19 cases Thursday. The Department of Health Services reported more than 5,900 cases statewide for the day's report. There was an additional 223 additional hospitalizations Thursday.
Health officials said the increase in the number of positive COVID-19 tests is leading to an increase in hospitalizations.
"The patients that we're seeing are extremely sick and they're requiring high levels of service," said Dr. Tom Nichols, surge section chief with Ascension Wisconsin. "We've had people that have been impacted from birth to the elderly age, and we've got healthcare workers who are working day and night to try and take care of the community."
There are 24 Ascension Wisconsin hospitals across the state. Nichols said they typically use Milwaukee hospitals as an outlet if another location can't take care of a patient locally, but those hospitals are reaching capacity limits due to the high number of COVID-19 patients.
Bellin Health is also experiencing some strain from the surge in COVID-19 cases.
The healthcare system has been operating under the orange level of its surge plan for several weeks.
"It takes the resources primarily from one of our units in our hospital pretty much dedicated to COVID, and it also takes up some of our ICU capacity," said Sharla Baenen, chief operating officer of Bellin Health.
Baenen said they brought in additional staff to assist with the increase in patients. Some retired staff members jumped back into the workforce. Bellin Health also brought in some agency staff to help.
Baenen said they're at the point right now where the hospital can still balance COVID patients with other care they need to provide.
Elsewhere, the chief clinical officer with ThedaCare Regional Medical Center said the majority of hospitals in the Fox Valley region are 95 percent full with limited bed space available.
"Really, hospitals are designed to operate at 80 or 85 percent capacity. Not 100 percent capacity all the time," said Dr. Mark Cockley, chief clinical officer with ThedaCare.
Officials expect the surge in cases to last through early December.
Ascension Wisconsin, Bellin Health and ThedaCare Regional Medical Center said they evaluate on a daily basis if any COVID patients meet criteria to be treated at the alternate care site in Milwaukee.
With the pandemic taxing resources both locally and statewide, officials are already planning for what upcoming holidays could mean for healthcare systems.
"As soon as you bring eight, 10, 12 people together, you do risk that chance that someone might be aymptomatic and then spread it to others, which then could propagate this pandemic or the surge even longer," Cockley said.
In addition to social distancing, practicing good hand hygiene and wearing face coverings, medical professionals are asking people to consider other alternatives to in-person gatherings for the holidays.
"It may not impact you personally, but you don't know who you may impact in the community," Nichols said.
With flu season right around the corner, health officials said they're worried how the addition of influenza patients could impact current bed space. Doctors encourage people to get their flu vaccinations sooner rather than later.
