Dr. George Morris

Late January, early February is the typical peak for respiratory illnesses/viruses in Minnesota. Dr. George Morris from CentraCare joined me on WJON. He explains a couple weeks after the holidays is when these illnesses spike and that leads to more people needing hospitalization.

Cooler weather, back to school and fall often means an increase in respiratory viruses. CentraCare spokesman Dr. George Morris says they are seeing an increase in COVID, flu and RSV cases in the community.

Respiratory illnesses that are making their way through Minnesota late summer and fall include a new COVID-19 sub variant. Dr. George Morris from CentraCare joined me on WJON.

COVID-19 variants continue to mutate but should we be concerned with the latest one? The latest is an omicron variant called XBB .1.116. CentraCare Spokesman Dr. George Morris joined me on WJON to explain what this new COVID variant is.

St. Cloud Hospital and hospitals throughout the country are experiencing a triple threat of respiratory illnesses which includes, flu, COVID-19 and RSV. Doctor George Morris is the Physician/Vice-President for Performance Excellence at CentraCare.

The cases of influenza, COVID-19 and RSV are on the rise at St. Cloud Hospital. That according to CentraCare spokesman Dr. George Morris. He says the respiratory illness season is about about 2 months ahead of where it normally would be this time of year.

A less severe but more contagious version of COVID-19 continues to impact Central Minnesota. Dr. George Morris from CentraCare joined me on WJON. He says the BA .5 sub variant of the Omicron COVID-19 variant is the one making its way through the community this summer.

For the past 2 years St. Cloud Hospital and CentraCare has been busy with COVID-19 patients. This week according to CentraCare spokesman, Dr. George Morris, St. Cloud Hospital has just 10 people hospitalized with COVID-19 and just 1 person in the ICU/Critical Care unit.

CentraCare has 25 COVID-19 positive patients throughout their Central Minnesota facilities this week with just 2 people in the ICU/Critical Care unit at St. Cloud Hospital. CentraCare spokesman Dr. George Morris joined me on WJON this week. He says these numbers are similar to the COVID numbers they had within CentraCare last August.

The Omicron variant of COVID-19 has been the predominant variant over the past couple of months in Central Minnesota. Dr. George Morris from CentraCare joined me on WJON today. He says the Omicron variant to proven to trigger more break thru cases of COVID-19 than the Delta variant did.

Another positive sign this week at St. Cloud Hospital in regards to COVID-19. CentraCare spokesman Dr. George Morris joined me on WJON this week. He says St. Cloud Hospital has just 7 COVID-19 patients in their ICU/Critical Care unit compared to 22 the week before.

The COVID-19 numbers at St. Cloud Hospital are about the same this week as last week but Dr. George Morris is optimistic our local COVID numbers will decrease dramatically over the next 6 to 8 weeks. Morris says they have 74 people at St. Cloud Hospital with COVID with 22 of those in the ICU/critical care unit.