‘It is heartbreaking to see’: Weekly Check-in with UMC’s Dr. Joel Hendryx

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 22:

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

Dr. Joel Hendryx (UMC’s Chief Medical Officer): "It's been a very busy week. By far, the largest numbers we have seen since the pandemic has started."

Casillas: Can hospitals handle the current number of patients?

Hendryx: "We are having to activate surge plans, which we have prepared for before. We have looked at other venues where we may need to place other non-Covid patients. We have a micro hospital on the west side of town. We have not had to activate that yet, but we have already planned for this and are doing ok."

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

Hendryx: "Please, please understand this is a devastating disease. You can't see it. Individuals next to you may be infective and you don't know it. Please wear the mask."

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

Hendryx: "I wish I could allow individuals to see what our nurses and health care providers are doing for our patients. It is very emotional. It is emotional for our associates and also for the families that aren't there to see their loved ones."

Casillas: What is your prediction for next week?

Hendryx: "For the hospital system, usually in 4-5 days later, we will see some individuals coming into our hospital. 1-2 weeks later, we'll see more of the older individuals as they become infected, come into our hospitals. We expect that and we are prepared for that."

Casillas: What is giving you hope at this time?

Hendryx: "We have done this before. Our community can step up, can follow the masking, the distancing and the washing. With that, we can bring our numbers down and get this under control."

Casillas: What is your message to the Borderland?

Hendryx: "It is heartbreaking to see the families that are disrupted, they are -- devastated by that. Husband, wife, mother, daughter. our associates have to take care of all of them and they become that family. they spend time with these individuals. to watch them not progress is devastating. Even though it's a low amount, each one is a person."

Statistics for October 22:

• 36,025 total cases, 9,406 active cases, 567 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)
• October 1 Q&A: (24,666 total cases, 3,812 active cases, 524 deaths)
• October 8 Q&A: (26,969 total cases, 4,929 active cases, 541 deaths)
• October 15 Q&A: (30,624 total cases, 6,887 active cases, 554 deaths)