CLEVELAND — The Cleveland Clinic announced it will once again postpone nonessential inpatient surgeries that require a hospital stay starting Dec. 7 to Jan. 4. 

"We are currently experiencing the highest volume of patients with COVID-19 since the start of the pandemic. With these steps, we are proactively making more beds available to accommodate what we anticipate will be a continued increase in COVID-19 patients needing hospitalization," the Cleveland Clinic wrote in a statement.

The new policy is in effect for all Ohio locations except Lutheran Hospital. 

All nonessential outpatient surgeries will continue. Urgent cases including heart, cancer, pediatrics, transplantation and neurological cases will also continue. 

Ambulatory Surgery Centers and Ambulatory Endoscopy Surgery Centers will also remain open, except Marymount ASC. Those patients will be directed to Marymount Hospital or another Cleveland Clinic location. 

This isn't the first time the Cleveland Clinic postponed nonessential surgeries. After it was mandated in the spring by the Ohio Department of Health, the clinic decided to implement the restriction again last month, which expired Nov. 30. 

Ohio is facing a record number of hospitalizations as COVID-19 continues to spread. 

The Ohio Hospital Association reported hospitalizations are up 15% from last week, 82% in the last three weeks, and 650% in the last two months. 

Hospitals are also facing staffing shortages as health care workers are out sick with COVID-19 are in quarantine. The Cleveland Clinic said last week they had more than 900 people out of rotation. 

"We will reevaluate our scheduled surgical cases as the pandemic continues. We encourage everyone to help keep our community safe and help limit the spread of the virus by remaining vigilant in wearing masks, social distancing, and washing your hands," the Cleveland Clinic wrote.

Hospitals are also changing visitation policies. You can see the changes by clicking here.