Cobb ER sees record-breaking numbers as hospitals deal with flu

WellStar Kennestone Hospital's emergency room staff have been dealing with a 30 percent spike in flu cases, according to Channel 2 Action News.

So far this year, at least 25 people in Georgia have died of the flu, according to the Georgia Department of Public Health.

Last year there were nine flu-related deaths, the previous year there were seven and three years ago there were 28, DPH spokeswoman Nancy Nydam previously said.

READ | The agony of ER waits: Flu season is making them worse

You can check out wait times here | https://hospitals.myajc.com/

The flu epidemic this year is overwhelming waiting rooms to the point that Grady Memorial Hospital set up a specialized trailer outside its emergency room with space for 14 beds to handle patients.

Last Wednesday at Kennestone, the hospital had a record-breaking day when 516 people came in for treatment in a 24-hour period — many of them showing flu-like symptoms, Channel 2 reported.

“It's been insane. Everyone has it. It’s just, everyone’s sick from school,” student Sarah Harris told WSB.

READ | Learn more about this year's flu epidemic here

READ | Georgia's youngest flu victims

WellStar’s Dr. Brett Cannon said there’s still time to slow the records numbers.

“We hope everybody's had a flu shot, and if you’re not having symptoms then it's not too late to get a flu shot,” Cannon said.

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