COLUMBUS, Ohio (WJW) – The Ohio Department of Health (ODH) held a press conference Thursday on COVID-19.
FOX 8 reported Wednesday that genomic sequencing tested a portion of the state’s cases taken over a 2-week period ending Jan. 1 and found 74.24% were omicron.
24.83% were delta and less than .07% were listed as other.
ODH Director Bruce Vanderhoff, MD, MBA, talked to health leaders across the state about what they’re seeing on Thursday.
The Ohio Hospital Association (OHA) reports 6,637 people are currently hospitalized with COVID in the state’s hospitals.
1,221 people are in the ICU.
According to OHA data, admissions are up in every age group.
Live updates:
- Here is the scheduled list of speakers:
- Bruce Vanderhoff, MD, MBA, Director, Ohio Department of Health
- Major General John C. Harris, Jr., Adjutant General, Ohio National Guard
- Daniel Bachmann, MD, Director of Emergency Preparedness and Emergency Physician, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center
- Jennifer Wall Forrester, MD, Associate Chief Medical Officer and Infectious Disease Physician, UC Health
- “Omicron continues to sweep through Ohio.” – Dr. Vanderhoff
- Cases continue to be at historic high
- Statewide average is just short of 2,000 per 100k
- High community spread is 100 per 100k
- “In this omicron surge we need to remember no one is untouchable.” – Dr. Vanderhoff
- “Hospitalizations across Ohio has shattered records this month.” – Dr. Vanderhoff
- “Our hospitals are swamped.” – Dr. Vanderhoff
- The Cleveland Clinic is receiving federal help from U.S. Air Force, about 20 members
- Team will begin working on campus next week, which they hope will open closed beds and accept more transfers
- “Ohio is facing unprecedented demand for testing.” – Dr. Vanderhoff
- Ohio ordered 1.2 million proctored test kits. Proctored test kits use telehealth. Only a fraction of tests have arrived due to shipping delay, which is why state is prioritizing tests for schools.
- Ohio National Guard is going to support additional testing locations across the state.
- More than 22,000 people have been tested at W.O. Walker Center
- Dr. Bachmann says having the Ohio National Guard on site has been a morale boost for fatigued staff.
- Most of the patients who are requiring hospitalization are not vaccinated, which impacts all patients because of “historic volumes.”
