The state of Ohio reported nearly 4,300 new confirmed COVID cases on Thursday, with a total of nearly 5,400 confirmed and probable cases. These are the highest numbers seen since the end of the winter surge of cases and deaths. Ohio hospitals are now considering their options.
The Ohio Hospital Association said there are 2,100 patients with COVID, a more than 600% increase from two months ago. There’s also more than 700% increase in patients with COVID in intensive care. A record of just over 5,300 COVID hospitalizations was reported just before Christmas.
Ohio Hospital Association spokesman John Palmer said there’s real concern that a spike like the one last winter is coming.
“It's definitely resembling it. There's just a lot of different variables this time around, with obviously the delta variant we didn't have before and then with the strain that's put on health care givers as well,” he said.
Some hospitals are close to capacity in their ICUs, and some like OhioHealth in Columbus and central Ohio are also postponing elective procedures.
