ROCHESTER, N.Y. — Golisano Children's Hospital is at about 90% capacity, but doctors say that number fluctuates every day.
This comes as COVID-19 cases continue to rise in Monroe County.
The pediatric chair of URMC's Golisano Children's Hospital says the influx of patients is a combination of kids getting sick with respiratory illnesses and the delta variant spreading.
The number of patients changes every day as children get discharged and new ones admitted.
Respiratory syncytial virus and parainfluenza cases spiked last month in the southern states, and now Dr. Patrick Brophy says that wave is hitting the Rochester region.
"Most of us in pediatrics think mask wearing an social distancing helped reduce RSV, as we’ve gotten together more we’ve seen a resurgence,” explained Brophy.
Dr. Patrick Brophy described the situation on Twitter Saturday.
Both RSV and parainfluenza are respiratory illnesses that typically show up in children and infants in the fall and winter. They can lead to more severe illnesses like pneumonia.
This time last year, no children at Golisano Children's Hospital tested positive for RSV. So far just this month, doctors there have seen 77 cases.
As kids get ready to head back to school, Dr. Brophy is asking parents to put an umbrella around them.
“I believe it’s our community responsibly to do our best to protect them through whatever means we can,” said Brophy. “Washing our hands. Social distancing. Wearing masks.”
In response to others on Twitter, Brophy said RSV was not spreading when masking and social distancing was in place, but as COVID-19 protocols eased, it began to spread.
Golisano Children's Hospital is the only children's hospital in the Finger Lakes region. The hospital has 134 beds.
The hospital has the ability to flex and add more beds if needed once capacity is reached.