An Associated Press and Side Effects Public Media data analysis shows one in six visits to the emergency department in 2022 that resulted in hospital admission had a wait of four or more hours.

Increasing numbers of physicians and families nationwide say a post-Roe fear has come to pass: Pregnant women with dangerous medical conditions are showing up in hospitals and doctors’ offices and being denied the abortions that could help treat them.

(AP Photo/David J. Phillip)A fast-rising rising tide of new coronavirus cases is flooding emergency rooms in parts of the United States, with some patients moved into hallways and nurses working extra shifts to keep up with the surge. Ive never seen anything like this COVID surge, said Haddock, who has worked in emergency rooms since 2007. It's difficult to get a complete picture of how U.S. emergency rooms are faring. Dr. Robert Hancock, who works at multiple hospitals in Texas and Oklahoma and serves as president of the Texas College of Emergency Physicians, said some Texas emergency rooms are facing backups of patients awaiting ICU beds. Emergency rooms doctors and nurses were caught off guard by the relentless stream of severely sick patients during shifts that often lasted 12 hours, said Dr. Bernard P. Chang of New York-Presbyterian/Columbia University Medical Center.

Of course, on the list is face masks but they have also requested face shields and several of you have asked if they’re effective. “I think face shields are a good alternative to masks in a situation and for people for whom masks might be a bit of a challenge,” Haddock explained. “Especially for people who may have hearing difficulties and need to see faces and facial expressions, face shields can be a good option.”She mentioned people with sensory issues may also prefer shields. The TEA hasn’t said yet what districts will get face shields or how they might be used. As for the current mask order, according to guidelines, face shields are an okay substitute.

Mask-making community growsAll over the Houston area, people are working together to make homemade cloth masks for those in need. Even the youngest members of the mask making community are working hard to help others. Kids from sewing classes at The Creativity Shell are making cloth masks. Also, you can use a bandana or scarf as a face covering if you don’t have a cloth mask. Here are step-by-step instructions for making your own cloth mask.