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Salem doctor says after 100 deaths in Marion County COVID-19 remains unpredictable - OregonLive

Salem doctor says after 100 deaths in Marion County COVID-19 remains unpredictable - OregonLive

Salem doctor says after 100 deaths in Marion County COVID-19 remains unpredictable - OregonLive
Oct 17, 2020 1 min, 28 secs

Omer Khan, treating patients with serious cases of COVID-19 hasn’t gotten any more predictable since the hospital saw its first in March.

But the Salem Health hospitalist, who cares for people admitted to the hospital but not sick enough for the intensive care unit, said he’s become more comfortable treating coronavirus patients because he’s learned to be prepared for anything.

A total of 418 county residents have been hospitalized with the virus, with Salem Hospital treating at least 350 of them.

One in four have spent some time in intensive care while in the hospital, Salem Health spokesman Elijah Penner said.

But Khan and county health officials said that data doesn’t mean younger and healthier people can disregard the risks.

Khan said the county’s data on who’s dying from COVID-19 mirrors his experience at Salem Hospital.

Deaths from COVID-19 are most commonly from respiratory failure, Khan said, often after a patient develops pneumonia because of the damage the virus has done to their lungs.

The virus can also cause blood clots which lead to strokes or cardiac problems in some patients, Khan said, something he’s personally observed three or four times.

While those who die with COVID-19 are usually elderly, Khan said the patients who stay in the hospital longest are younger.

While older patients who are seriously ill may die quickly after being hospitalized with the virus, he said younger people with serious illness stay in the hospital longer than because their bodies will keep fighting the virus.

What has changed, Khan said, is health care professionals have seen the basic precautions they take to prevent the spread of disease -- like wearing masks and gowns around patients and washing hands regularly -- work well to stop the coronavirus.

Summarized by 365NEWSX ROBOTS

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