‘We’ve seen a 30% increase in our Covid population’: 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. Dr. Burgos was unavailable this week, so we spoke to UMC's chief medical officer, Dr. Joel Hendryx.

Here's the Q&A for September 24:

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

Dr. Joel Hendryx (UMC’s Chief Medical Officer): "We have had an increase in the number of cases that we've been seeing. It's not unusual following a holiday. We're usually a couple weeks behind."

Casillas: Can hospitals handle the current number of patients?

Hendryx: "We have that capacity. We've gotten very good at how we manage individual patients. We have that routine down and are able to do that well."

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

Hendryx: "Talking with their health care provider about getting a flu vaccine. Everybody has talked about how the flu and Covid tend to have similar symptoms. So really, it's about talking to them about what is the best time and what is the best time and what is the best vaccine for that individual to be protected as we go into the winter."

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

Hendryx: "We've seen a 30% increase in our population of Covid. That is somewhat of a concern about -- are we having a new surge? We're seeing younger individuals coming into our ICU with complications of the virus."

Casillas: What is your prediction for next week?

Hendryx: "We may see an increase in the numbers just based upon our Labor Day statistics and on the opening of some of the businesses to a greater capacity. We're hoping that it won't increase, but that is a possibility and we are prepared for that."

Casillas: What is giving you hope at this time?

Hendryx: "We're seeing several trials that are on-going at this point which we're monitoring very closely. As we get more information, we want to be able to tap into those therapies -- not necessarily for a cure but we'd love to get people out of the hospital quicker."

Casillas: What is your message to the Borderland?

Hendryx: "It's important to be positive. I would also encourage people to be kind to each other. Help each other get through this new normal."

Statistics for September 24:

• 23,207 total cases, 3,300 active cases, 508 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)