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New COVID-19 testing method on the horizon? PPE supply levels, HSV Hospital disaster plan: Madison County update

Madison County health workers have been fully dedicated to getting COVID-19 numbers down. But, they still have to prepare for the worst...

HUNTSVILLE, Ala. —

David Spillers, CEO of Huntsville Hospital, asks the following question during Tuesday afternoon's daily COVID-19 update: “What happens if you have more patients than resources?"

That’s one question Madison County health workers never want to have to answer. But, they have to prepare for that possibility. Huntsville Hospital CEO, David Spillers, is laying a disaster plan out  to the Board of Trustees today in the event of a major surge. 

Spillers says, “It goes though the process of how we would staff up additional beds, how we would add beds in certain areas that aren’t traditionally used for in-patients. Resources are a part of this allocation plan. 

It’s one plan he says they hope they’ll never have to use. 

Spillers says, “My hope is we have this document and we put it on the shelf and we never have to look at it again.”

Madison Mayor Paul Finley says he has hope that we’ll see progress as Alabama’s projected deaths decline. Mayor Finley says, “What started at 8,000, was down to 634 last week. This morning I looked, it was at 450 and that continues to go down.”

We're told testing numbers continue to lead the state. Spillers says, “We’ve now tested over 5,100 people across Madison County. And we’ve tested over 8,000 in North Alabama.”

A new form of testing takes a look at a patient's blood--specifically, their antibodies, to see how they fight off the virus and to test immunity. 

Spillers says, “There’s a belief among a lot of people that many of us have been exposed to it, and have some level of immunity to this. Having some antibiotic tests would certainly be helpful in doing that."

These tests are in the early stages and many haven’t yet been approved by the FDA. Huntsville Hospital is not yet providing these tests for patients. Spillers adds, “Right now, we have not seen one that we’re comfortable offering to the public.”

PPE has been a major concern throughout the pandemic. David Spillers remarks, “It’s the wild west out there right now…”

But, we’re told, supplies are adequate at this point. Spillers adds, “Right now we have at least a two week supply of everything. Some are longer. We’re continuing to get in some shipments.” 

But, that could change at any point. That’s why officials say it’s important to prep for an emergency. Spillers says, “It’s not just us, it’s the entire community. And the plan we’re working on is bigger than us too. It has to be.”

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