COVID-19 hospitalizations are surging across all age groups, with especially troublesome increases among the oldest and youngest Ohioans. The OHA COVID-19 Hospitalization Dashboard today reports an 857% increase over the past eight weeks in the under-17 age group and an exponential climb 1,161% among the 80-plus group.
OHA President and CEO Mike Abrams offers the following statement:
“Unvaccinated Ohioans are driving the new surge in COVID-19 hospitalizations, putting dangerous strain on our state’s health care infrastructure, especially the health care workforce that has been on the front lines of the pandemic for the past 18 months. Hospitals once again are being forced to make tough decisions—such as rescheduling elective procedures, activating patient diversion plans and limiting visitation policies—to alleviate the pressure caused by the growing number of COVID-19 patients. In addition, the Delta variant is perpetuating a staffing crisis that is severely limiting hospitals’ abilities to respond to the many other urgent medical needs in their communities. Vaccination is the best defense in preventing hospitalizations and it is the best way we can support our frontline caregivers at this critical time. We urge all Ohioans to please get vaccinated, wear a mask and maintain proper social distancing to help ensure Ohio’s communities continue to have access to life-saving care.”
Today’s Ohio hospitalizations for positive COVID-19 total 3,147 patients, a significant increase from the recent peak of 1,325 on April 19. The record for hospitalized patients was 5,308 on Dec. 15, 2020. There are 849 patients being treated for COVID-19 in Ohio hospital ICUs, trending toward the highest record to date which was 1,318 ICU patients on Dec. 15, 2020.
