Mount Nittany Medical Center Officials ‘Alarmed’ by Surge in COVID-19 Hospitalizations

Mount Nittany Medical Center leadership on Friday expressed growing concern over the increase of COVID-19 hospitalizations — mostly of unvaccinated individuals — that have followed a surge in new cases of the virus in Centre County.

As of Friday afternoon, the medical center is treating 42 COVID-19 inpatients, two and a half times the number it had a week ago, according to a hospital spokesperson. The current inpatients range in age from 19 to 92

Since Sept. 1, Mount Nittany has had a total of 76 COVID-19 inpatients, already more than the 69 it had for the month of August. A year ago, the hospital had 15 COVID-19 inpatients for the entire month of September.

Over the past two weeks, the medical center’s average daily census of COVID-19 inpatients has increased from 16 to 28. In August, the average daily census was 14.

“We are alarmed at the escalating rate of COVID positive hospitalizations,” Dr. Upendra Thaker, chief medical officer, said in a statement. “The vast majority of the COVID positive inpatients are unvaccinated.”

The average age of Mount Nittany’s COVID-19 inpatients in September is 58, Thaker said.

Since COVID-19 hospitalization numbers began to rise again in August, Mount Nittany has responded with several adjustments to its services, including prohibiting visitors except in special circumstances, allowing only one caregiver, if necessary, to accompany patients to the emergency department and outpatient offices, and canceling or rescheduling elective surgeries that require overnight admission.

If COVID admissions continue to increase, “it will be necessary to take additional steps to adjust our services to meet the needs of our patients,” Thaker said.

“As a community, and as doctors and nurses on the front lines, we have been fighting the pandemic for more than a year and half now,” Thaker said. “We strongly urge the community to please get vaccinated, social distance, avoid large gatherings, wear a mask, and wash your hands frequently. In addition, if you are experiencing any symptoms or have been exposed to someone who is COVID positive, then please isolate yourself from others.”

As of Friday afternoon, 82,019 people in Centre County are fully vaccinated [+251 since Thursday] and 6,524 are partially covered [-72]. According to the Centers for Disease Control, 60.9% of the county’s entire population and 67.9% of adult residents have received at least one dose.

Vaccination appointments for ages 12 and older are available through Centre Volunteers in Medicine, Mount Nittany Health and through other pharmacies and providers listed at vaccines.gov.

The hospitalizations come as Centre County has experienced a continued increase in COVID-19 cases fueled by the more contagious Delta variant of the virus.

The county has had 917 new COVID-19 cases through the first 17 days of September, up from 639 for the entire month of August and 148 in July.

Statewide, COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations have continued to grow as well.

COVID-19 hospitalizations in Pennsylvania fell below 250 in mid-July, the lowest numbers since early in the pandemic. Since then, however, they have grown nearly 10-fold. On Friday, 2,337 COVID-19 patients were hospitalized statewide, the most since April 28.

Deaths attributed to the virus in Centre County have not increased as rapidly as they have statewide.

Pennsylvania has reported 577 COVID-19 deaths so far in September, following 378 in August and 170 in July.

Since July 1, Centre County has registered five COVID-19 deaths, the most recent on Sept. 5. A total of 232 county resident deaths have been attributed to the virus since March 2020.