Baystate Health sees 33% increase in COVID-19 hospitalizations in week – MassLive.com

SPRINGFIELD -- Baystate Health has seen a 33% increase in patients treated for COVID-19 in a week bringing concerns about an uptick in infections.

On Sunday, 30 people who are confirmed to have COVID-19 are hospitalized with two being treated in the critical care unit, officials said.

While the increase is concerning, the numbers are nowhere near infections reported in April and May when more than 100 people were hospitalized with the coronavirus.

Sundays total hospitalizations is an increase from 20 confirmed cases reported a week ago and 13 confirmed cases reported two weeks ago.

The increase comes after officials at Baystate Medical Center in Springfield faced an outbreak related to an employee who returned to work after visiting another state identified as a hot spot for the virus. As of Monday 33 employees and 22 patients were infected in that outbreak that is traced to occurring between July 15 through 23. None of the employees had been hospitalized as of Wednesday.

Baystate has taken new precautions due to the outbreak. A state travel requirement also went into effect on Aug. 1 now requires people to quarantine for 14 days when coming into Massachusetts from 44 states. Exemptions are all of the New England states, except Rhode Island, New York and Hawaii.

All 30 patients being treated with COVID-19 are hospitalized at Baystate Medical Center in Springfield. Baystate Health also operates Franklin Medical Center in Greenfield, Baystate Wing Hospital in Palmer and Baystate Noble Hospital in Westfield.

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Baystate Health sees 33% increase in COVID-19 hospitalizations in week - MassLive.com