CLEVELAND — The Cleveland Clinic has decided to postpone nonessential surgeries that require hospital stays at all locations on Friday and Monday. The clinic said in a press release it's only for surgeries that are non-emergency and can be rescheduled safely.

The move comes as COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations are reaching new highs in the state. 

"Patient and caregiver safety is our top priority, and this decision will preserve hospital beds and supplies to ensure all patients have an optimal experience. We will reevaluate our scheduled surgical cases on an ongoing basis as the pandemic continues. We are closely monitoring supplies, including PPE, bed availability and personnel," the clinic said. 

Also, starting Friday, outpatient surgical care at Marymount Hospital Surgery Center will be suspended for the rest of the month. Patients will be directed to other hospitals for proper care. Doctors are hoping this will save hospital beds that may be needed for COVID-19 patients. 

On Wednesday, 2,880 Ohioans were hospitalized with COVID-19, while 716 patients were in ICU beds and 328 were on ventilators. During a press conference Wednesday, Gov. Mike DeWine said hospital workers are exhausted. On Monday, Cleveland Clinic reported many of their health care workers are battling COVID-19, causing a lack of staff. 

"Our hospitals in rural and metropolitan areas are aggressively managing capacity at this time, but we must stop the spread,” said Ohio Hospital Association President Mike Abrams on Wednesday. “The alarming increase in hospitalizations creates a severe strain on health care workers, especially among front-line staff, as hospitals make the necessary personnel shifts to manage these cases.”

DeWine also issued new orders for businesses, requiring them to mandate masks for both employees and customers. If they're in violation twice, they could be shut down for 24 hours. He's also placing restrictions on family gatherings like weddings and funerals. Everyone attending a family gathering must be seated and spaced apart, and there should be no intense movement like dancing. 

Cleveland Clinic's decision is reverberating memories of the summer, when hospitals were first ordered to postpone nonessential surgeries temporarily during a time when Ohio was expected to hit its peak. 

Now, Ohio is in it's "third wave" of COVID-19, as DeWine called it, and has asked Ohioans to return to the basics: Wear a mask, social distance and avoid gatherings.