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(1/20/2022) Currently the Omicron wave is overwhelming many institutions including healthcare institutions and hospitals. Currently in the US the pandemic is out of control. But many of the problems in US hospitals that have made the situation worse like short staffing were problems that existed long before the pandemic. And unfortunately US hospitals failed to prepare for a pandemic even though all public health officials and epidemiologists new it was only a matter of time before an infectious disease would reach pandemic levels.

In this episode we go from the macro to the micro level and talk with Twin Cities nurse Bridget Gavin.

Links from the Report:

VIDEOS:

Hundreds of Australian aged care centres in crisis, facing COVID-19 outbreaks | 7NEWS: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=30j-oA40OT8

U.S. recording over 800,000 COVID-19 cases each day: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=px4-Td23dc0

Students hold walkout protests over in-person learning during COVID surge: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SsvoXtoO45Y

Articles:

St. Louis COVID-19 hospitalizations hit another record high: https://www.stltoday.com/news/local/metro/st-louis-covid-19-hospitalizations-hit-another-record-high/article_4eeaaf35-2789-5218-a8c8-89f4f29e8855.html

Hospital “crisis” care already happening amid Colorado’s omicron surge, ER doctors warn Polis: https://www.denverpost.com/2022/01/18/colorado-hospital-omicron-crisis-standards-rationing/

Nursing home operators fear 'collapse' after another COVID wave: https://www.mprnews.org/story/2022/01/13/nursing-home-operators-fear-collapse-after-another-covid-wave

National Guard To Staff Wisconsin Hospitals, Nursing Homes: https://minnesota.cbslocal.com/2022/01/13/wisconsin-national-guard-hospitals-nursing-homes/

Minnesota loses about 2,000 long-term care workers each month entering year three of the pandemic: https://www.kare11.com/article/news/health/coronavirus/long-term-care-facility-worry-vaccine-mandate-workers-worsen-staffing-crisis-shortage-ltc-facilities/89-016a0a5c-2df1-4fa6-a8e7-6849f0fa9999

The number of children in American hospitals with covid-19 is rising fast: https://www.economist.com/graphic-detail/2022/01/17/the-number-of-children-in-american-hospitals-with-covid-19-is-rising-fast

Ridgeview halting urgent care services at Chaska site 'until further notice': https://bringmethenews.com/minnesota-news/ridgeview-halting-urgent-care-services-at-chaska-site-until-further-notice

'It's crushing': Mercy Hospital ER under strain due to COVID: https://www.hometownsource.com/abc_newspapers/community/coonrapids/its-crushing-mercy-hospital-er-under-strain-due-to-covid/article_b03fefe0-74e6-11ec-a011-538eca3556e7.html