Dr. Timothy Friel, LVHN Infectious Disease Specialist, has issued the following statement:

Lehigh Valley Health Network is issuing a call to arms for our community for everyone to “Do Your Part” so hospitals do not become overwhelmed by the coronavirus pandemic.

We are at a critical crossroads where positive cases and hospitalizations continue to rise. At LVHN we have seen significant increases in COVID-19 spread across the entire region we serve in the last two to three weeks. In the last 10 days the number of patients admitted to our hospitals has almost doubled with the concern we could surpass peak levels seen last spring.

LVHN has a plan in place and is prepared to care for COVID-19 and all patients, but we can only do this in these circumstances with the community’s help by not being overrun with patients suffering from COVID and having the beds, equipment and staff available to treat all patients.

We are asking the community to “Do Your Part,” and make the right decisions to protect yourselves and others.

We are pleading with you to wear a mask, practice social distancing, use hand hygiene and stay home, especially when you’re sick. This includes limiting your social contacts during the holiday season to those you are with at home every day. With your help, we can slow the spread of the virus and flatten the curve just as we did in the spring.