COLUMBUS, Ohio — Ohio health officials said Thursday they fear an omicron-driven virus surge could seriously exacerbate the pandemic, with the variant taking hold in the state at a time when some hospitals are already treating record numbers of COVID-19 patients.
What You Need To Know
- The omicron variant could soon become dominant, officials said
- On Thursday, 4,723 Ohio patients were hospitalized with COVID-19
- A Cleveland Clinic expert said he fears a "tidal wave" is coming
Many hospitals in the state have delayed elective surgeries and emergency protocols for triaging patients are in place, Ohio Department of Health Director Dr. Bruce Vanderhoff said. State officials are also discussing the possibility of involving the Ohio National Guard to support strained hospitals.
Officials said the omicron variant is already spreading in Ohio, and experiences from other countries suggest it could become dominant in a matter of weeks.
“We have to look at reality that we're facing right now, and anticipate the very real possibility that this actually could exacerbate an already serious problem on the ground that's being driven by delta," Vanderhoff said.
While the omicron variant appears to be less virulent than previous strains, Vanderhoff said that doesn’t mean Ohio is in the clear.
“Any time you have a form of the virus that's spreading rapidly to many people, even if it's proportionately less severe, you have more numbers. That creates a very real risk,” he said.
At least four cases of the variant have been detected in Ohio, but officials said many more cases are likely out there.
“I think we have to make the assumption that omicron is on the scene, that we are going to see more and more of omicron in our detections, and that it is going to drive more and more cases of COVID-19,” Vanderhoff said.
Dr. Steven Gordon, chair of the Cleveland Clinic’s department of infectious disease, said it’s unclear how much the omicron variant is already impacting Ohio’s case numbers, but he said he envisions the variant stressing hospital systems further in the near future.
At Cleveland Clinic hospitals, more than a third of nursing floor beds are occupied by COVID-19 patients, and for the system’s intensive care units, it’s up to 50% virus patients, Gordon said.
The timing of the surge coincides with holiday travel and comes amid the peak season for other respiratory illnesses, he said.
“We are hoping that there won't be this tidal wave, but we anticipate that will happen,” Gordon said.
The Ohio Department of Health and state officials are having discussions with the Ohio National Guard about how they couuld support hospitals, but Vanderhoff said it’s a complicated situation because some National Guard members are already involved in COVID-19 response in their civilian jobs.
“We're actively engaged with them, and I think that that is on a daily basis, so rest assured that's part of the calculus and the dialogue, and if and when we see an appropriate opportunity, that will be something that we will do,” Vanderhoff said.
On Thursday, 4,723 COVID-19 patients were hospitalized in Ohio, not far shy of the all-time peak last winter of 5,308 patients.
“Simply put, we're in a very serious situation, but we have a powerful tool in vaccination that can strengthen our protection against severe cases of COVID-19,” Vanderhoff said.
The Ohio Department of Health said residents should get vaccinated or receive a booster before the holidays if they are eligible.
“As we head into two of the busiest holiday weeks of the year, we are urging all Ohioans to pause and think about what steps you can take to stay safe from COVID-19,” Vanderhoff said.
He recommended wearing a mask in crowded indoor environments and considering if it might be best to avoid gathering with relatives who are at high-risk if they contract the virus.
“Is this perhaps not the year to have the extended family, including vulnerable members of our family, gathering in one place with the degree of spread that's going on?” he said.
Officials also urged residents to consider donating blood, citing concerningly low blood supply in the U.S.