Coronavirus kills hospital ICU chief who ‘selflessly’ cared for patients during pandemic – NBC News

The executive of excessive care at a Baltimore sanatorium who helped address the “sickest” patients, including at some level of the pandemic, died Saturday of the coronavirus.

Dr. Joseph Costa, 56, became once the intensive care unit chief at Mercy Scientific Heart in downtown Baltimore. The sanatorium confirmed his loss of life in a direct posted to Facebook on Sunday.

“He dedicated his life and profession to caring for the sickest patients,” Sister Helen Amos, chair of the sanatorium’s board of trustees, and David Maine, president and CEO, acknowledged in a joint direct. “When the worldwide pandemic got right here down upon us, Joe selflessly persisted his work on the entrance lines — deeply dedicated to serving our patients and our Metropolis at some level of this time of sizable want.”

“His reminiscence will are living on as an illustration to us all,” the sanatorium acknowledged.

Costa had worked for Mercy for 23 years, turning into chief of excessive care in 2005. He’s survived by his husband of 28 years, David Hart.

“I preserve thinking, ‘Now there is one much less ICU doctor to fancy pandemic patients in Baltimore,’” Hart urged The Baltimore Sun.

One in all Costa’s medical college classmates, Dr. Amy Zimmerman, urged NBC Baltimore affiliate WBAL that his tragic loss of life might well additionally honest calm support as a reminder of the seriousness of the pandemic.

“Right here’s staunch. This became once a 56-twelve months-feeble wholesome man. He knew the intention in which to look at out. He knew the intention in which to come to a decision truthful care of himself, and he calm passed a long way from this disease,” she acknowledged. “This is in a position to perchance well additionally happen to anybody.”

Maryland has had higher than 85,000 conditions of the coronavirus and nearly 3,500 deaths, according to NBC Info’ tally. The numbers of recent conditions had been initiating to dip in June, nonetheless were rising once more in July, Maryland Smartly being Department figures level to.

Costa is among over 850 health care workers in the U.S. who enjoy died of COVID-19, according to a joint tally by Kaiser Smartly being Info and The Guardian.