The variety of COVID-19 sufferers hospitalized on the Akron space’s 4 hospital techniques spiked above 100 on Thursday as the state reported the highest number of new cases in someday since January.
On Thursday, the state reported 5,395 new COVID-19 instances — essentially the most since 5,432 had been reported on Jan. 28.
The Beacon Journal has been monitoring each day hospitalizations of COVID sufferers since Nov. 30, 2020. The excessive on the 4 hospital techniques in Summit County was 318 on Dec. 15, 2020. The low of 12 whole hospitalized sufferers countywide was final reached on July 7.
However with the extremely contagious delta variant inflicting surges, there have been 104 sufferers being handled for COVID-19 on Thursday in space hospitals: 48 at Summa Well being, 47 at Cleveland Clinic Akron Normal, eight at Western Reserve Hospital in Cuyahoga Falls and one at Akron Kids’s Hospital.
“It’s disappointing to see growing numbers of hospitalized COVID-19 sufferers at Summa Well being and throughout Summit County,” mentioned Dr. Shanu Agarwal, Summa’s chair of an infection management. “Presently, the overwhelming majority of our sufferers hospitalized with COVID aren’t vaccinated, and the age vary is trending youthful. One of the best safety for your self and your family members is by getting vaccinated and training all security measures corresponding to sporting a masks and social distancing.”
Although the variety of hospitalized sufferers within the Akron space has been steadily growing with the delta variant, the proportion of occupied intensive care unit beds within the Akron space is just not as excessive as in Central Ohio. There, the leaders of the four health systems started sounding the alarm that vaccination rates must increase or the state could find itself without beds like Florida has.
Extra:Hospital leaders: COVID cases surging here at ‘staggering’ pace
Within the Columbus space, hospital ICUs have been from 90% to 96% full in latest days and weeks, in keeping with federal knowledge. In the Akron area, the range for data as of Aug. 13 was from 74.9% full at Akron Kids’s Hospital to 87% full at Summa Akron Metropolis Hospital. Akron Normal’s ICU was 79.2% full; Western Reserve was not within the database.
As of Thursday, Akron Kids’s Hospital’s Chief Working Officer Lisa Aurilio mentioned the pediatric ICU was at 82% capability.
Akron Kids’s officers have mentioned the hospital has not been seeing the high number of pediatric COVID patients that require hospitalization, like different elements of the nation, however nonetheless suggest vaccines for many who are eligible and masking for all college students in kindergarten via twelfth grade.
Extra:Akron Children’s Hospital not seeing spike in severely ill COVID patients; still advises protection
The hospital is seeing a rising number of respiratory cases in children requiring hospitalization, similar to other parts of the state and nation, Aurilio mentioned.
Extra:Ohio’s children’s hospitals sound the alarm on summer surge of respiratory illnesses
“This yr is most regarding as a result of we’ve typical respiratory sicknesses, corresponding to flu and RSV, arriving a lot earlier, on the similar time many elements of the nation are experiencing a spike in pediatric COVID-19 instances,” she mentioned on Thursday. “Our emergency rooms are already seeing affected person volumes that we sometimes see within the late fall. Akron Kids’s is taking some steps to organize for these elevated volumes corresponding to develop area in our ER ready rooms in Akron and the Mahoning Valley, whereas sustaining social distancing, and dealing on plans to flex our workers and rent extra staff to assist the elevated volumes.”
The rise in hospitalizations and significantly ICU beds being crammed in Central Ohio induced Ohio Well being close to Columbus on Thursday to say it was quickly halting any elective procedures that require an in a single day keep.
To this point, no Akron-area hospital has any plans to halt any elective procedures, officers mentioned.
Joe Milicia, Cleveland Clinic Akron Normal spokesman, mentioned the hospital is seeing an growing variety of sufferers with COVID-19 in its ICU.
“Whereas a few of our ICUs could close to capability on sure days, we nonetheless have out there ICU beds inside our well being system and are in a position to proceed offering vital care to these sufferers in want,” he mentioned. “At the moment, we aren’t suspending elective surgical procedures.”
Well being officers and physicians proceed to suggest vaccinations as a technique to additional defend the general public.
The place to get vaccines, incentives
Incentives of $100 reward playing cards have been introduced in latest days for certified individuals getting their first COVID-19 vaccine.
On Wednesday, Ohio’s Medicaid managed care plans expanded their $100 incentive for getting a primary COVID-19 shot to youngster members ages 12 and older. Officers hoped the inducement would entice households to get vaccinated to get a number of reward playing cards.
Extra:Ohio children on Medicaid now eligible for $100 COVID-19 vaccine incentive
Individually, the Summit County health department is giving away $100 gift cards to the general public ages 12 and older who get their first COVID-19 vaccine at any of the division’s public occasions.
Extra:Summit County health department offers $100 gift cards for first COVID-19 shot
The kickoff for the $100 incentives will probably be Friday, Aug. 27, throughout a drive-thru clinic on the well being division’s headquarters in West Akron. The tackle is 1867 W. Market St. in Akron.
The clinic will happen 1-7 p.m. All three COVID-19 vaccines will probably be out there: the two-dose Pfizer and Moderna vaccines and the one-dose Johnson & Johnson vaccine.
The incentives will proceed at any well being division public clinic till the reward card provides run out.
The division additionally will probably be providing COVID vaccines — and the $100 reward playing cards — on the Akron Satisfaction Competition from 11 a.m. to six p.m. Saturday, Aug. 28, at downtown Akron’s Lock 3.
The well being division continues to have its weekly Wednesday walk-in clinic at its headquarters, providing all three vaccines from Sept. 11 a.m. and 1-6 p.m.
Group unfold continues uptick
In the meantime, the group unfold ranges of COVID-19 within the five-county area round Akron proceed to extend. All 5 counties are within the highest class, in keeping with the CDC.
The CDC is identifying areas by the variety of COVID-19 instances per 100,000 individuals within the final seven days. Fewer than 10 per 100,000 represents a “low” stage of group transmission of COVID-19, 10 to 49 is “average,” 50 to 99 is “substantial” and above 100 is “excessive.”
As of Aug. 25, Summit County was at 129.20 (up from 25.69 on July 28), Medina was at 206.96 (up from 48.96 on July 28), Portage was at 155.72 (up from 37.55 on July 28), Stark County was 199.40 (up from 44.25 on July 28) and Wayne County was at 211.74 (up from 31.98 on July 28)
Beacon Journal reporter Emily Mills contributed to this text. Beacon Journal workers reporter Betty Lin-Fisher will be reached at 330-996-3724 or blinfisher@thebeaconjournal.com. Comply with her @blinfisherABJ on Twitter or www.fb.com/BettyLinFisherABJ. To see her most up-to-date tales and columns, go to www.tinyurl.com/bettylinfisher.
