BOSTON (WBZ NewsRadio) — Hospitals in Massachusetts are anticipating a second wave of COVID-19 infections, following a recent uptick in the state's average positive coronavirus test rate.
Dr. Paul Biddinger, director of emergency preparedness at Massachusetts General Brigham hospital, said he is closely watching the state's health data. If the COVID-19 patient numbers increase, he said select procedures may have to be put back on hold.
"Ambulatory visits, or elective surgery, or other procedures... all of that is possible," said Dr. Biddinger. "What we're trying to do ... is to figure out how to do that with the least impact on people's health, and the greatest ability to support another surge. That's the really complicated math we're involved in right now."
According to the state Department of Public Health, the Commonwealth's positive COVID-19 test rate started to rise around July 15th.
While the number of patients in Massachusetts hospitals has not been on the rise, Dr. Biddinger said a second wave of the virus in Massachusetts is likely.
WBZ NewsRadio's James Rojas reports:
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