Georgia hospital opens COVID ward to news cameras: Two patients die within the first 15 minutes taking their August's death toll to 75

A hospital in Georgia made the rare decision to allow news crews in this past week and the cameras got a rare look at the toll the pandemic is still taking.

Two people died in the first 15 minutes of CBS46 in Atlanta's visit to Northeast Georgia Medical Center in Gainesville on Monday alone. 

They also spoke to a nurse who had worked at the hospital for six years but quit the weekend before over the stress. 

Northeast Georgia Medical Center in Gainesville made the rare decision to allow news crews in this past week and the cameras got a rare look at the toll the pandemic is still taking

At least 73 people died of Covid at the Northeast Georgia Medical Center in August alone, which makes the hospital's death toll in August 75. 

At the time of the news crew's visit, at least 248 Covid patients were fighting for their lives in the hospital, with 6,000 hospitalized across the state, down from a peak of about 350 in January. 

As of Thursday, at least 22,740 people have died from Covid-19 in Georgia. Deaths are rising to 99 per day. 

As of Thursday, at least 22,740 people have died from Covid-19 in Georgia. Deaths are rising to 99 per day

Georgia ranks eighth in the country in total deaths from Covid since the pandemic began. 

The state has seen 1,403,582 positive tests for the virus. 

Amber Rampy, a hospital nurse, having worked the last 20 months in the Covid-unit of a hospital, simply walked out and quit last Friday, not being able to take the stress any longer. 

Amber Rampy, a hospital nurse, having worked the last 20 months in the Covid-unit of a hospital, simply walked out and quit, not being able to take the stress any longer

'I just left on Friday because I can't do it anymore. I just can't. Although I'm used to individuals dying, I'm simply not used to this many.' 

Like many medical professionals, Rampy thought the worst of the pandemic was behind her. 

Dr. Deepak Aggarwal, who also works at Northeast Georgia Medical Center, said the numbers are rising again and could hit dangerous levels. 

Doctors at the hospital say they could be facing 450 to 500 hospitalizations from Covid soon, well above their peak of 350 in January

'If the current modeling holds were looking at 450 to 500 hospitalizations on average per week,' Aggarwal stated. 

Officials add that while they haven't had to turn anyone away yet, they have been forced to treat some Covid patients in the backs of EMS trucks.    

'We haven't had to turn anyone away and we're very fortunate,' Dr. Aggarwal said.

At least 73 people died of Covid at the Northeast Georgia Medical Center in August alone, which makes the hospital's death toll in August 75

However, staff is having to get creative to keep up with the pace of people being hospitalized, using the trucks as well as hospital hallways to deal with extra patients. 

The hospital invited the media in to specifically highlight the current fourth wave of Covid that's killing more younger people than previous waves did.

'Now they're like 45 and their kids are like 12 and you have to tell them, 'daddy's dying',' Rampy said.

Dr. Deepak Aggarwal said the Covid numbers are rising again at the hospital and could hit dangerous, record levels

Officials at the hospital say they have been forced to treat some Covid patients in the backs of EMS trucks

The nurse, who had been working for Northeast Georgia Medical Center for over six years, according to her LinkedIn account, said she has stopped asking if patients were vaccinated.

'Individuals make poor selections, you need to take care of them. However, it's overwhelming,' Rampy stated.

Rampy does hope that sharing her expertise would be the push some individuals need to get the shot.

Total coronavirus infections in the United States is edging close to 40 million

Only nine US states have a lower vaccination rate than Georgia