Unvaccinated Patients With COVID-19 Push MD Hospitals To Open Beds: Hogan

MARYLAND — As Maryland has surpassed 1,200 coronavirus patients in hospitals statewide, state health officials have put new orders into effect to free up beds for those who are sick. Much of the influx is due to people who aren't vaccinated, the governor said.

“Having surpassed 1,200 COVID-19 hospitalizations statewide, we are triggering a new round of actions for Maryland hospitals, including making available all staffed bed capacity and reducing non-urgent medical surgeries," Gov. Larry Hogan said in a statement.

On Friday, the Maryland Department of Health reported 1,204 residents with COVID-19 are hospitalized.

"The vast majority of these hospitalizations are unvaccinated patients, who remain at grave risk of serious infection, severe illness and death," Gov. Larry Hogan said in a statement Friday.

A week ago, there were 1,027 Marylanders hospitalized with COVID-19, at which point Hogan announced hospitals had to submit emergency plans by Dec. 15.

Now that more than 1,200 patients are hospitalized with the virus, the state ordered Maryland hospitals as of Dec. 17 to make all bed capacity available. Hospitals are urged to postpone surgeries that would result in an overnight stay and/or use of a ventilator; to convert idle spaces for clinical care; and to use regional and alternate care sites to free up bed space.

Adventist HealthCare Takoma Park Hospital and University of Maryland Laurel Medical Center are open and operating as field hospitals, the Maryland Department of Health told Patch this week.

The state established a Surge Operation Center to handle the expected sustained surge in COVID-19 at hospitals, Hogan announced this week, due to a potential influx of unvaccinated patients.

About 4.2 million Marylanders have had two doses of the COVID-19 vaccine, and 1.35 million have had the booster shot, according to the Maryland Department of Health.

"Initial studies indicate that higher levels of immunity from booster shots do provide more protection, which makes it more important than ever that every single Marylander who is eligible for a booster shot should get a booster as soon as possible," Hogan said, given research showing the omicron variant was "far more transmissible than previous variants, and it is anticipated to rapidly overtake Delta as the main driver of new cases."

Maryland recorded its first three cases of the omicron variant Dec. 3.

“The bottom line: if you are unvaccinated, get vaccinated. If you are vaccinated, get your booster shot," Hogan said.

A vaccine locator is available through the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

When 1,500 patients in Maryland are hospitalized with COVID-19, the Maryland Department of Health will order hospitals to implement their pandemic plans.

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