Doctors, Next Surge Won’t Be March’s Madness

As in March, coronavirus case counts are rising in Berkshire County. But, eight months into the pandemic, much is different about the latest COVID-19 surge, medical experts say.

In a recent article from the Berkshire Eagle.Com, by Dr. James Lederer, chief medical officer/chief quality officer for Berkshire Health Systems, for one, people have been schooled for much of 2020 on how to prevent transmission, experts say, which should put the brakes on the rate of increase. And today, health care providers stand ready with vital tools, like test kits, expandable hospital space and improved medical therapies.

They also have months of data and clinical results, piercing the mystery that shrouded the coronavirus’ arrival in the region. In March, doctors at Berkshire Medical Center needed express permission to test a patient for the virus.

But, one factor — the weather — links what’s happening today with the arrival of the virus early this year.

“It was the ‘inside season’ that got us in March. And the inside season is coming back,” Lederer said.

“We have a lot more tools in our tool belt than we had in March,” Lederer said. “Now, we have tests available. We know where the risks lie. We’re not going to see the March peaks, when we didn’t know what was happening until after it happened.

Read the entire riveting article by Dr. James Lederer, chief medical officer/chief quality officer for Berkshire Health Systems on only on The Berkshire Eagle.Com.