‘We’re still expecting a spike’: Weekly check-in with UMC’s Dr. Jose Burgos

EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) -- In an effort to deliver the most comprehensive coronavirus coverage, ABC-7 has started a weekly feature where we ask Dr. Jose Burgos, the director of internal medicine at University Medical Center, the same seven questions each week to track how the pandemic is changing.

Here's the Q&A for Thursday, May 21:

Mauricio Casillas (KVIA): How has this past week gone for you?

Dr. Jose Burgos (Internal Medicine Director, UMC): "The volume was steady which is good news. We're still expecting a spike of admissions, coming from patients who may have been exposed over Mother's Day weekend."

Casillas: Can hospitals handle the current number of patients?

Burgos: "As of today, hospitals can handle the current number of cases that we are seeing now and the one's that we might potentially see over the next few days."

Casillas: What should people at home be doing right now?

Burgos: "I have seen a lot of videos on social media of people refusing to wear masks. Masks are not only to protect yourself from others, but to protect others from yourself. Remember, I've been telling you for the past couple of weeks -- pretend that you're the one who is sick. You don't want to get other people sick."

Casillas: What is the most eye-opening thing you’ve seen this week?

Burgos: "A health care worker who was sick, was sick actually over the past couple of weeks -- I have been personally treating that person -- and he's in the hospital now. We're treating him in the hospital. Fortunately, that person is doing well. I'm sure they will be going home over the next couple of days, but that's eye-opening. That person could've been me."

Casillas: What is your prediction for next week?

Burgos: "We might see some of those cases from Mother's Day. Memorial Day is coming also. Remember, practice social distancing. Things are not back to normal. The virus is still there. The virus is out there. If we look back on March 13, when we had our first case in El Paso, remember that now we have more virus out there than what we had at that point."

Casillas: What is giving you hope at this time?

Burgos: "Most of our patients are doing well. We're very happy to see how they are improving and how they are going home."

Casillas: What is your message to the Borderland?

Burgos: "This is a real condition. It is not made up. It is not something that somebody just came up with just to make people afraid. This is very, very real."

Statistics for May 21:

• 2,046 total cases, 883 active cases, 57 deaths in El Paso County

Here's a list of earlier segments:

• April 9 Q&A: (225 cases , 1 death in El Paso County)
• April 16 Q&A: (451 cases, 7 deaths in El Paso County)
• April 23 Q&A: (675 total cases, 543 active cases, 10 deaths)
• April 30 Q&A: (924 total cases, 506 active cases, 21 deaths)
• May 7 Q&A: (1,190 total cases, 541 active cases, 30 deaths)
• May 14 Q&A: (1,607 total cases, 771 active cases, 43 deaths)