MARTINSBURG, W.Va. — As the weeks stretch into months fighting a pandemic, COVID fatigue is real, according to Dean Thomas, the new President and CEO of WVU Hospitals East which has hospitals in Berkeley and Jefferson County.
“We are concerned about that. I think earlier in the pandemic there was so much community support. We often had different groups in the parking lots with posters and banners, cheering on our employees,” he says.
He tells the Panhandle News Network his administration is redoubling efforts to make sure frontline workers feel protected and supported by providing Personal Protective Equipment and focusing on morale. He says fatigue can be felt throughout the community.
“I think our entire community and country – are tired. And just – the strain of continuing to try to practice social distancing and not being able to visit family in many cases – all of things have really created ‘COVID fatigue’ if you will.”
Thomas adds one of the best things folks can do to help is follow CDC guidelines to help stem the spread of Coronavirus.