Franklin Square Sees COVID-19 Surge Among Unvaccinated

TOWSON, MD — The president of MedStar Franklin Square Medical Center said the "overwhelming proportion" of COVID-19 patients there have not been vaccinated against the virus.

Since the beginning of the pandemic, the hospital has cared for and discharged nearly 3,000 coronavirus patients, according to Dr. Stuart Levine, president of Franklin Square.

"We are once again experiencing a significant COVID surge driven by new and highly infectious variants: delta and omicron," Levine said at a news conference Monday.

"We are currently operating at near full capacity every day, and the patients we are seeing are sicker than ever," Levine said. It is not where he said people expected to be in 2021.

"This is the surge that didn't need to happen and can be blunted, if everyone in our community does its part — get vaccinated, get a booster and continue to wear masks in indoor spaces especially over the holidays," Levine said. He was speaking at a news conference outside the old Baltimore County courthouse in Towson with other local leaders who urged people to get vaccinated against COVID-19.

"While it is true that even the most fully vaccinated and boosted among us may be susceptible to breakthrough infections, infections in this group are usually mild, self-limited and infrequently lead to severe illness, hospitalization and death," Levine said.

"Make no mistake, the overwhelming proportion of patients with COVID now being admitted to the hospital and to our ICUs are those members of our community who have thus far chosen not to receive a COVID vaccine," Levine said, asking people to get vaccinated to help health care workers.

"Please remember our courageous health care workers during this holiday season and get vaccinated," Levin said. "They are tired of watching these patients struggle to breathe ... and yes, sometimes die, day after day and now year after year. The toll that it is taking on them is incalculable."

Those who want to get vaccinated against COVID-19 can check the Baltimore County coronavirus page for locations about vaccination centers. There is also a COVID-19 vaccine locator from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Those looking to get tested or vaccinated can also call the Baltimore County COVID-19 Hotline at 410-887-3816 for more information.

See Also: Baltimore County Hospitals Almost Full Due To COVID-19, Shortages