COVID-19 Hospitalizations Up In Ohio, Hitting Younger Groups

Chris Mosby
Updated ·3 min read

OHIO — COVID-19 hospitalizations are on the rise across Ohio and are increasingly hitting younger populations, the Ohio Department of Health announced Thursday.

Hospitalization levels are hitting record highs in parts of the state, largely due to unvaccinated populations. Over the past two weeks, more than 20 percent of Ohio patients hospitalized due to COVID-19 were under the age of 50, said Dr. Bruce Vanderhoff, director of the state health department. He added that people 40 and younger make up 13 percent of Ohio's COVID-19 hospitalizations.

"We are in a very serious situation," Vanderhoff said. "Our number of patients in intensive care units are almost as bad as it has ever been throughout the entire pandemic."

The vast majority of COVID-19 hospitalizations and deaths, approximately 95 percent, are among people who were not vaccinated against the virus, Vanderhoff said. He said he has heard numerous stories from doctors and nurses who were treating unvaccinated patients who "begged" for the vaccine after they were hospitalized. "By then, it's too late," Vanderhoff said.

"Making the choice to get vaccinated right now can keep you out of the hospital and, more importantly, out of the obituary pages," he added.

Looking At The Numbers

Ohio is in the midst of a delta variant-driven COVID-19 surge. Northern Ohio has been hit particularly hard, with hospitals delaying nonessential surgeries to preserve bed space and health officials noting that COVID-19 hospitalization levels are approaching unprecedented highs.

"Our current surge is being driven by delta and unvaccinated patients," Vanderhoff said.

Statewide, more than 4,700 Ohioans are hospitalized with COVID-19. That means 1 in 5 hospitalized patients have tested positive for the virus, according to the Ohio Hospital Association. Also, 1 in 3 patients in Ohio's intensive care wards have contracted COVID-19, the association said.

In the northern portion of the state, conditions are worse. One in four hospitalized patients have COVID-19, and the virus is driving hospitalization levels to unseen heights. The Cleveland Clinic, University Hospitals and MetroHealth have all urged residents to get vaccinated and take precautions to prevent further spreading the virus.

The Cleveland Clinic's intensive care units are 50 percent consumed by COVID-19 patients, said Dr. Steve Gordon, chairman of the Department of Infectious Diseases.

Gordon worried that as masking and social distancing diminishes, and the omicron variant surfaces in the region, there could be a double surge driven by both delta and omicron. He said early indications are that booster shots offer further protection against omicron, but fully vaccinated people still have a layer of protection against the virus.

However, hospital officials are also anticipating further influxes of respiratory patients, including people battling influenza and other ailments. Gordon said it's possible the delta variant surge has not yet peaked and omicron could drive a new surge itself.

"We are hoping for the best, but we are all preparing for the worst," he said.

This article originally appeared on the Cleveland Patch