RICHMOND, Va. – A doctor in the Central Virginia emergency room has issued a warning before Christmas and New Year after a wave of coronavirus cases after Thanksgiving.
Dr. Carlton Stadler is a member of the Virginia College of Emergency Physicians and works in an emergency room in the Richmond area.
He shared a heartbreaking story about the impacts of the COVID-19 virus on families.
“Yes, we saw a real and dramatic increase in the number of patients we saw: patients from interconnected families because they ignored these warnings,” Dr. Stadler explained. “There have been a couple of cases where we’ve had whole families occupying hospital beds or intensive care units.”
On Christmas night, the Virginia Department of Health reported the newest infection in a single day, with 4,782.
There are about 200 more cases than were reported on Wednesday, which was also a record.
Health experts, such as Stadler, feared that the holidays would also substantially increase the spread of the disease.
“This holiday is really the big test. It is the test where there is hope on the horizon, but there is still so much disease and the numbers are rising dramatically, ”he said.
Stadler received his first dose of COVID-19 vaccine on Friday. Both he and his wife, who is also a healthcare professional, will need a second dose to be completely vaccinated against the virus.
“[The vaccine] he tells me I won’t die from this disease and that’s all all emergency doctors have in mind, ”Stadler said.
Since the pandemic began, many front-line workers feared they would become infected with the disease and spread it to loved ones.
“The only way to stop this disease is to vaccinate people or get COVID-19, but it’s not a good alternative,” Stadler explained.
He urged families to research the virus from trusted and proven sources. Relying on science will prevent each of us from dying from this disease, Stadler said.
Washing your hands, socially distancing yourself from others, and wearing a face covering will help stop the spread.
Stadler recommended wearing a mask indoors, especially when social distancing is difficult.
The Richmond City Health District posted best practice tips for keeping your family safe during the holidays.
City of Richmond
Large meetings, especially indoors, are considered unsafe this year.
This includes potlucks and traveling to crowded places such as shops, parades, running events and sports.