‘People are underestimating what the virus can do’: 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 October 1:

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

Dr. Jose Burgos (UMC’s Director of Internal Medicine): "This past week has been busy and actually today is one of the busiest days that we have had in the past month, so that's a bit concerning. I'm worried about what we are doing out there, how we are taking care of ourselves."

Casillas: Can hospitals handle the current number of patients?

Burgos: "Yes. Definitely we are not at the same level as we were in the first peak, but we are definitely busier than the past couple of months."

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

Burgos: "It's about how early we detect our symptoms -- how soon we go and seek medical professionals. If you know you have the virus, what most doctors will tell you is that 'please go ahead and call me if anything changes.' Do that. Go to the emergency room. Go to your doctors. Go to your urgent cares. Go to wherever you can get medical attention if you see that something is changing."

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

Burgos: "People are sick and they are waiting too long to come to the hospitals. What I'm seeing is that people are underestimating what the virus can do. Maybe some of your friends have already gone through it and they are doing well. That doesn't mean that you will do well. Remember something, this is a deadly virus. It's not killing at a high rate, but it kills."

Casillas: What is your prediction for next week?

Burgos: "I would like to tell you I have a prediction, but I don't. Things are going in different directions right now."

Casillas: What is giving you hope at this time?

Burgos: "I think that every physician by now is more versed about how to deal with coronavirus. That is why, in spite of higher numbers, our mortality is lower. We are getting better at treating this."

Casillas: What is your message to the Borderland?

Burgos: "Unfortunately, I think we are -- as a community -- underestimating what the virus can do. We are behaving like nothing is going to happen. That's why we're seeing so many people in the hospital. People getting sicker, going to the ICU. We all have to just keep that in mind."

Statistics for October 1:

• 24,666 total cases, 3,812 active cases, 524 deaths in El Paso County

Here's a list of earlier segments:

• April 9 Q&A: (225 cases , 1 death)
• April 16 Q&A: (451 cases, 7 deaths)
• 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)
• May 21 Q&A: (2,046 total cases, 883 active cases, 57 deaths)
• May 28 Q&A: (2,569 total cases, 1,032 active cases, 72 deaths)
• June 4 Q&A: (3,069 total cases, 1,059 active cases, 89 deaths)
• June 11 Q&A: (3,650 total cases, 1,015 active cases, 97 deaths)
• June 18 Q&A: (4,088 total cases, 946 active cases, 119 deaths)
• June 25 Q&A: (4,984 total cases, 1394 active cases, 125 deaths)
• July 2 Q&A: (6,389 total cases, 2,223 active cases, 132 deaths)
• July 9 Q&A: (8,385 total cases, 3,085 active cases, 145 deaths)
• July 16 Q&A: (10,638 total cases, 3,708 active cases, 173 deaths)
• July 23 Q&A: (12,501 total cases, 3,564 active cases, 211 deaths)
• July 31 Q&A: (14,276 total cases, 3,311 active cases, 266 deaths)
• August 6: (15,596 total cases, 3,747 active cases, 285 deaths)
• August 13 Q&A: (17,378 total cases, 4,166 active cases, 330 deaths)
• August 20 Q&A: (19,057 total cases, 4200 active cases, 382 deaths)
• August 27 Q&A: (19,925 total cases, 3,102 active cases, 410 deaths)
• September 3 Q&A: (20,686 total cases, 2,822 active cases, 429 deaths)
• September 10 Q&A: (21,335 total cases, 2,724 active cases, 452 deaths)
• September 17 Q&A: (22,078 total cases, 2,801 active cases, 479 deaths)
• September 24 Q&A: (23,207 total cases, 3,300 active cases, 508 deaths)