Ohio National Guard arrives at Christ Hospital in Cincinnati amid rapid omicron spread

Twenty Ohio National Guard members have arrived at Christ Hospital Health Network to assist health workers in day-to-day operations amid the region's COVID-19 surge.

The guard members arrived in the area this week as it continues to battle rising caseloads of COVID-19, record-setting hospitalizations, and a peak still yet to come. The omicron surge has put growing stress on the region's 40 hospitals, with 4 of every 10 patients now suffering from the novel coronavirus.

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According to the latest data from the Health Collaborative Situational Dashboard, the region's COVID-19 hospitalizations rose to 1,033 as of Wednesday. That includes 196 patients in intensive care units and 141 individuals on ventilators.

Christ Hospital to recieve 30 more Ohio guard members next week

Christ Hospital will receive an additional 30 guard members next week, president and chief executive officer Deborah Hayes said in a recorded video accompanied with a news release Thursday night.

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"We've been very grateful to have the Ohio National Guard here at Christ Hospital Health Network," she said. "...They have been extraordinarily helpful in both our clinical areas and in all of our support areas.

Ohio National Guard also assisting with Cincinnati COVID testing

On Dec. 29, Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine mobilized 1,250 members of the Ohio National Guard to help at the state's hospitals, a move that came after DeWine had previously sent 1,050 guard members to hospitals and other facilities due to the omicron wave.

In addition to hospital assistance, the National Guard arrived in the area at the beginning of the month to help with the growing need for testing.

Hayes said the guard members will provide "an additional layer of support" for the hospital to continue to provide care under stressed levels of capacity.

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"As everyone has heard in the national news, the strain on health care providers and the support staff has been extraordinary over the course of this pandemic," Hayes said. "The National Guard is a wave of fresh eyes and fresh energy that can come and help our teams to support what they need to get done so that we can continue to provide extraordinary care."

This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: COVID omicron variant: Ohio National Guard arrives at Christ Hospital