Ohio Hits Record High For COVID Hospitalization & One Day New Cases

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(Above Photo: Courtesy of The Ohio Channel)

(Updates Are Ongoing)
The State of Ohio has hit a record high for hospitalizations and daily new cases for COVID-19, since the pandemic began. The state hit a record-high 20,000 new COVID-19 cases and for total hospitalizations. An additional 592 hospitalizations have been seen over the past 24 hours. The Ohio Hospital Association website shows a total of 5,356 patients as of December 29th, 2021.

Hospitals in northern Ohio, especially the Cleveland area, have been among the hardest hit. Nationally, new cases have climbed to a record of more than 265,000 cases per day.

In response, Governor Mike DeWine has activated an additional 1,250 National Guard Troops to assist with staffing at hospitals inundated with COVID patients. The governor had previously activated 1,050 guardsmen last month to assist with the hospital staffing crunch.

In a press conference update of the COVID-19 case increase now seen in Ohio, DeWine stated it is clear the majority of hospitalized COVID patients are those who have not received COVID-19 vaccinations.

Ohio Health Department and U.S. Centers For Disease Control officials have acknowledged that the newest COVID variant known as “omicron” is being seen in people who have been vaccinated, but pointed out that those vaccinated are largely escaping the most serious symptoms and hospitalizations of the omicron variant.

Several doctors, nurses and hospital administrators on Governor DeWine’s press conference Wednesday urged Ohioans to get their vaccinations and boosters. Recent statistics show Ohio has approximately 55% of the eligible population fully vaccinated, which is well below the national average of over 70%.

DeWine also urged schools to require staff and students to wear masks upon their return to class in January- at least until the current surge passes.

The governor along with Ohio Department of Health Director Bruce Vanderhoff says the omicron variant, which started in South Africa, has been much more quick to spread. It is also less deadly than the delta variant. Recent news in South Africa shows the omicron is starting to show fewer new cases, but it could be another month before Ohio sees that trend going downward.

Recently, the CDC has updated recommendations for those who become infected with COVID or come into someone who has tested positive:

People who test positive for COVID-19: Only need to isolate for 5 days if asymptomatic, followed by 5 days of wearing a mask if they are around others. Remember, previously it was a 10-day isolation period.

People who are exposed to COVID-19 and are either (1) unvaccinated or (2) more than 6 months from completing their initial round of vaccination and unboostered only need to quarantine for 5 days followed by mask-wearing for 5 days. The CDC indicates that “if a 5-day quarantine is not feasible, it is imperative that an exposed person wear a well-fitting mask at all times when around others for 10 days after exposure.” 

People who are exposed to COVID-19 and have received their booster shot do not need to quarantine at all but need to wear a mask for 10 days after exposure. 

For all exposures, CDC still says that it is a best practice to test on day 5 after exposure. If symptoms occur, “quarantine until a negative test confirms symptoms are not attributable to COVID-19”