'Here we go again': Doctors, nurses concerned about delta variant, fear hospitals will be strained
Animations revealed this week from the University of Nebraska Medical Center show how the delta variant infects an otherwise healthy cell.
In Douglas County, Nebraska, positive COVID-19 cases are the highest they鈥檝e been in months. ICU nurse Bethann Weniger says the resurgence in cases comes without a resurgence in public diligence and support for front-line workers.
"It's just like, here we go again," Weniger said. "The toll that it's taking is unreal. It's heart-wrenching, it's back-breaking, it's mentally exhausting.鈥�
Weniger said Nebraska Medicine had three COVID-19 patients in early July. Now, that number has increased tenfold.
"It's heartbreaking, because I feel like it's preventable,鈥� Winegar said.
Dr. James Lawler with UNMC said the delta variant is so dangerous because it produces more offspring cells than the original strain.
"We know that people with delta variant can shed up to 1,000 times or more the amount of virus from their nose and respiratory epithelium than with the previous virus," Lawler said
Lawler and Weniger both urge unvaccinated people to get inoculated.
"A way to prevent the virus from gaining entry are these things, which are antibodies,鈥� Lawler said.
He added antibodies are stronger when they come from a vaccine, not a natural infection.
Weniger said people in the ICU express regret that they did not get vaccinated.
"I think getting the virus is way more risky than getting the vaccine. And by the time that a lot of people are realizing that, it's too late,鈥� Winegar said.
Weniger fears the hospital will be strained for resources as delta persists.
"We have a lot of amazing people, but I'm worried that it's not going to be enough. That we aren't going to have enough people, that we aren't gonna have the resources, that we're going to run out of beds," Weniger said.
