Many states are now reversing reopening plans due to a resurgence in COVID-19 across different regions and counties. Particularly concerning are the taxed and overwhelmed health care systems across the Sunbelt. Texas, Florida (two of the most populous states in the US) and Arizona are setting new daily records for infection as the entire US grapples with a record number of over 70,000 cases in one day alone. How this pandemic impacts home health care professionals can manifest in various ways. 

In the Washington Post, there are reports that patients are being transported to other hospitals with some traveling up to 600 miles to receive care and attention. What we are seeing is a repeat of hospitals being overwhelmed like in New York and Michigan but now in different locales.

With resources utilized primarily to care for COVID-19 patients and staffing growing short, elective surgeries and non-essential procedures are suspended through regions in Franklin, Tennessee, Tampa Bay, Dallas and more. Alternatively, where the virus has been under control and spikes have been contained, some bans have also been lifted like in Norfolk, Virginia from Fox 48 / WAVY TV:

And finally, a common refrain repeated throughout this pandemic has been the shortage of home health care workers to care for the elderly especially as patients are being transferred out of nursing homes to their families’ accommodation to prevent further risks of an outbreak.