From the Heart: A COVID quiz: What is 2+2?

Tuesday, March 30, 2021 | Vol. 2, No. 3

COVID math that even we can understand

We’ll be honest. We here in the communications shop at St. Tammany Health System aren’t exactly numbers people.

Oh, we can discuss at length the value of the Oxford comma, the difference between “it’s” and “its,” or the exquisiteness of a properly deployed semicolon. But numbers? Let’s just say there’s a reason we went into the liberal arts.

Still, even we understand the import of recent COVID numbers. At the height of the pandemic, we had 66 inpatients under COVID care at our Covington hospital. Today, we had just eight.

It’s no coincidence that decrease comes as more and more people are getting their vaccine. To-date, we’ve put 19,108 doses of the Pfizer, Moderna and Johnson & Johnson vaccines into local arms, with more added each day.

Long story short: Just as 2+ 2 still equals 4, the more vaccines are administered, the more COVID infection rates drop.

That’s the kind of math even we can wrap our pointy heads around.

By now, you’ve certainly heard that the state has further opened vaccine eligibility to everyone 16 and older, regardless of health or occupation – which means it’s easier than ever to get it.

So what are you waiting for? Go get your shot. We’ve got one saved just for you.

Meanwhile, we hope you enjoy this collection of news and notes from St. Tammany Health System.

Community checkup with Joan Coffman

Spring is in the air, and so is a whole lot of pent-up energy following the long winter of COVID. Good thing. We’ll need it, with a long list of happenings this month at STHS, including National Doctor’s Day, World Autism Day, the opening of our new patient tower and more.

A look back – and a look ahead

One needn’t look far to find heartbreaking statistics illustrating just how difficult the past year of COVID has been. Still, it can’t accurately be described without also touching on the litany of small victories – and some not-so-small ones – that have played out in the past 12 months.

Of course, the biggest and most consequential was the historically rapid development of multiple COVID vaccines.

But according to St. Tammany Health System infectious disease expert Dr. Mike Hill, there are many, many others.

Read the full story

Going blue

STHS will “Light It Up Blue” for the month of April, illuminating a handful of its Covington facilities as part of an international campaign to raise autism awareness. The blue lights will be turned on April 2, which is World Autism Day and the second day of Autism Awareness Month, and will stay on all April.

Revisiting the visitors policy

With COVID infection rates continuing to decline in our community, STHS has loosened the visitation policy at its Covington hospital. Click the link below to learn the details – and keep on washing those hands, wearing those masks and getting those shots. It’s making a difference!

Food for thought

For many parents of babies and toddlers, mealtime can be stressful. Are they eating enough? Are they eating too much? And what about that spinach? Should I make them eat all the spinach? As with many parenting issues, it doesn’t have to be that complicated.

So you have diabetes. Now what?

As March wraps up, so does Diabetes Awareness Month. But the truth is, managing diabetes is a year-round concern for those who have it. To help, our Jennifer Gagliano, a registered dietitian and nutritionist, offers seven self-care behaviors that can help you or someone you love who has diabetes.

St. Tammany Health System