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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt">Team Upstate:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt">We are seeing a continued rise in test positivity for COVID-19, increasing hospital admissions, persistently high levels of virus in local wastewater, and a significant increase in staff out of work due to
COVID-19.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt">All these circumstances place our patients, staff, and institution at risk clinically, operationally, and financially.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt">I believe it is important we all make the personal choice to do the simple things known to decrease the risk of transmission and infection with respiratory viruses including 1) frequent hand washing, 2) staying
home and getting tested if you are sick, 3) mask wearing for patient contact (especially highly vulnerable patients), and 4) strongly consider receiving updated COVID-19 and influenza vaccines.
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt">None of these interventions are 100% effective on their own, but when bundled together they significantly reduce the risk of transmission and infection between staff and to our patients.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt">Lead by example and continue to promote a culture of quality and patient safety.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt">Thanks for reading,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt">Stephen Thomas<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt">President – Medical Staff<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
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