Baptist Health Paducah seeing increased COVID cases

Baptist Health Paducah is seeing a spike in cases of COVID-19 and hospitalizations, as a result. However, a bigger problem is people clogging the Emergency Department trying to get a routine COVID test.

Dr. Brad Housman, Chief Medical Officer for Baptist Health Paducah said, "We are having issues with patients coming into the emergency room simply for testing.  If you show up for routine testing, you will be delaying care of other patients, plus your wait will be extremely long."

Housman, though, is engouraging people who need emergency care or are experiencing symptoms like low oxygen levels, shortness of breath, or chest pains to come in to the ER. 

For tests, he suggested using the Purchase District Health Department sites, or the Wild Health site on Jordan Drive. 

With the spread of the Omicron variant though the community, Housman also encourages vaccinations, boosters, masks, and social distancing as ways to help slow the spread.