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Don’t Make This Mistake with COVID-19 ‘Peak Dates’

April 06, 2020

Many questions are swirling surrounding COVID-19. Among them: When will the virus peak?

There doesn’t seem to be a definitive answer, though. Just dates that are causing some confusion in an already challenging environment.

“It has everything to do with the data, the availability of data,” says Keith Grant, APRN, and the senior system director for infection prevention at Hartford HealthCare.

Grant says a peak date allows medical staff to calculate the flow of patients they’ll see and a lot of necessary resources for those who will need critical care. Keep in mind, a peak period can last days or even weeks before the number of cases starts going down.

“A peak itself can be sustained over a period of time, so the peak doesn’t happen in one day,” said Grant.

Hartford HealthCare has been taking steps to prepare for the patient surge, such as locating alternative care sites and bringing in tents and trailers for emergency department triage.

So when will the peak happen in Connecticut?

Grant says right now people should be paying closer attention to their social responsibilities instead of marking their calendars with when the peak will arrive.

“In order for us to start moving in a downward trend everyone has to be doing exactly what they’re supposed to be doing,” Grant said. “If we keep focus on that, we’ll have a bigger impact than focusing on the actual date.”

That includes washing your hands, distancing yourself from others and staying home if you feel sick.

Not feeling well? Call your healthcare provider for guidance and try to avoid going directly to an emergency department or urgent care center, as this could increase the chances of the disease spreading.

For the latest information on the coronavirus, visit www.hartfordhealthcare.org/coronavirus

Stay with Hartford HealthCare for everything you need to know about the coronavirus threat. Click here for information updated daily.

Questions? Call our 24-hour hotline (860.972.8100 or, toll-free, 833.621.0600). 

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