Hospitals Delay Some Surgeries, Nursing Rooms Overwhelmed From Omicron Variant

ANNAPOLIS, MD — Luminis Health announced Monday that it will delay some surgeries at its two Maryland hospitals. The news comes as the omicron variant of coronavirus overwhelms the health care system with COVID-19 patients.

"While we remain committed to providing the best care at our hospitals, it is becoming increasingly challenging," Luminis Health CEO Tori Bayless said in a press release, noting that "crisis-level standards of care" may soon be necessary. "We need the community’s support now more than ever – please get vaccinated and boosted, and we encourage people to continue masking when outside their homes."

Starting Jan. 3, 2022, all non-urgent surgeries that require an overnight stay will be postponed. Urgent, emergency and outpatient surgeries will continue as normal.

The changes affect Anne Arundel Medical Center in Annapolis and Doctors Community Medical Center in Lanham.

Both facilities were already strained from the national staffing shortage before the latest spike. The omicron variant, however, added an extra challenge for the stressed health care industry. Omicron seems to cause less severe disease in many people, but it is highly contagious.

"With Omicron spreading rapidly across the country and in our own communities, the vaccine and booster provide protection and will minimize COVID-19 symptoms, as well as the severity of the disease if infected," Anne Arundel Medical Center President Dr. Sherry Perkins said. "This minimizing of severity has an important impact on reducing hospitalizations and emergency room overcrowding."

Luminis Health has seen a 325 percent increase in COVID-19 patients since Dec. 1. The system had 128 coronavirus patients in its hospitals as of Monday.

Most of these people are unvaccinated, Luminis Health said. This wave has also increased wait times in local emergency rooms. That means ERs "are approaching critical levels," said Deneen Richmond, president of Doctors Community Medical Center.

"Please avoid the ER for non-life threatening issues," Richmond said. "For COVID testing and all non-life threatening illnesses and injuries, patients should visit urgent care centers or seek care with their primary care provider. With that said, do not avoid getting care for more serious illness or injuries at the ER."

Residents can book a telehealth appointment for non-life threatening issues through CareConnectNow. This service charges a flat rate of $35 for a virtual visit. Insurance is not required.

To schedule a timeslot, Marylanders can call (443) 951-4270. More information is posted at myaamg.org/careconnectnow.

Locals can book an appointment with a Luminis Health primary care provider at lhprimarycare.com.

The health care system also offered these tips to stay safe and help slow hospital surges:

• In addition to getting vaccinated and boosted, practice the 3W’s to stop the spread. Wear your mask, watch your distance, and wash your hands.
• Avoid the emergency room for non-life threatening issues and for COVID testing.
• If you have COVID-19 and are experiencing minor symptoms, please stay at home and contact your primary care physician if you have questions.
• Avoid crowds and large gatherings. If this is impossible, wear a mask and maintain your distance.
• Luminis Health has administered 117,000 COVID-19 vaccines. Whether through mobile clinics or walk-in options, we are continuing to provide COVID-19 vaccines and boosters to all who need them now and in the future.

Rising Metrics

Maryland's case rate has skyrocketed to 113.07 new infections per day per 100,000 residents. That's more than double the previous record-high of 53.39 set on Jan. 12. The case rate is also well above its recent minimum of 11.16 reported on Nov. 5 and its overall low of 0.9 recorded on June 25.

The state's positivity rate is up to 17.58 percent. It was as low as 2.91 percent on Nov. 4. The all-time minimum of 0.54 percent was set on June 28. The positivity rate is still below its April 17, 2020 peak of 26.88 percent. That metric was artificially inflated, however, because tests were scarce early in the pandemic.

This omicron spike prompted an increase in hospitalizations. Maryland's 1,826 patients are up from the recent minimum of 490 registered on Nov. 14 and the record low of 97 posted on July 1. The current total is nearing the Jan. 11 all-time high of 1,952 hospitalizations.

The state has reported 11,437 COVID-19 deaths.

Vaccine Update

Maryland has 4,251,352 fully vaccinated residents. About 96.8 percent of Maryland seniors and 91.6 percent of adults have gotten at least one dose of the coronavirus vaccine.

Maryland has also made some headway on the newest group eligible for the shot. About 32.1 percent of kids aged 5 to 11 have gotten their first injection since they were cleared for immunization in late October.

The state has given 1,540,183 booster shots.

Maryland's health and vaccine metrics are updated daily at coronavirus.maryland.gov.

Who's Eligible For Booster

Here is a chart explaining who is eligible for a booster shot and when they can take it:

Residents don't have to get their booster from the same immunization manufacturer they used for their initial inoculation(s). Marylanders are allowed to pick any additional dose they want.

The CDC recommended getting the Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna booster, not the Johnson & Johnson. Experts urged locals to still get Johnson & Johnson's extra dose if Pfizer and Moderna are not available.

Who's Eligible For First Doses

The Pfizer immunization is the only one with full approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. That clearance is good for residents 16 and up. Pfizer also has emergency-use authorization for anybody aged 5 to 15 for their first two doses

The Moderna and Johnson & Johnson inoculations have emergency-use authorization for locals 18 and up.

Emergency-use authorization requires less FDA review than full approval, which is the golden stamp of support from regulators.

Residents can book a vaccine by visiting covidvax.maryland.gov or calling Maryland's multilingual call center at 1-855-MD-GOVAX (1-855-634-6829).

RELATED:

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• AACPS Says Bring Devices Home In Case Of 'Remote Work': Report
• 100K At-Home COVID-19 Test Kits Available In Anne Arundel County
• COVID-19 Booster Shots: Where To Find Them In Anne Arundel County
• Omicron Cases Explode In Maryland: See Latest CDC Data
• Governor Hogan Confirms Positive COVID-19 Test
• Anne Arundel Suggests Masks, Boosters As Omicron Reaches MD

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