Gov. Hogan Announces New Measures For Rising COVID-19 Hospitalizations

New Hospital Directive To Ensure Bed Capacity as Maryland Surpasses 1,200 COVID-19 Hospitalizations

By Maria Lopez-Bernstein

Some Maryland hospitals are reaching capacity as both the Delta and Omicron COVID-19 variants continue to spread in the region. On Friday, Gov. Hogan issued a new directive ordering hospitals to undertake actions to free up beds due to Maryland Department of Health’s latest report of 1,204 hospitalized patients with COVID-19, up from 1,027 a week ago. A month ago, there were 508 hospitalizations in the state.

The new statewide orders makes available all staffed bed capacity. Hospitals are to use regional and alternate care sites to free up bed space, and convert idle spaces for clinical care. Hospitals are also to reduce or postpone non-urgent medical surgeries that would result in an overnight stay and/or use of a ventilator.

Earlier this week, Hogan announced that the state established a Surge Operation Center to handle the expected sustained surge in COVID-19 at hospitals due to a potential sudden influx of unvaccinated patients. If the state reaches 1,500 hospitalized patients with COVID-19, hospitals are directed to implement their pandemic plans which were to be updated by Dec. 15. This will mean:

·        Optimize existing bed capacity;

·        Adjust hospital capacity, such as bringing additional staffed beds into service;

·        Redeploy staff or alter staffing models;

·        Reduce non-urgent and elective procedures and surgeries;

·        Transfer patients to ACSs; and

·        Bridge idle clinical or administrative space online or convert other space for clinical care. 

“The vast majority of these [hospitalized] are unvaccinated patients, who remain at grave risk of serious infection, severe illness, and death,” Gov. Larry Hogan said in a statement on Friday, as he urged Marylanders to get vaccinated.

COVID vaccinations and booster shots as well as the flu shots are available to all residents who can get one. Flu shots can be administered at the same time as a COVID-19 vaccine shot. To find a clinic, visit covidvax.maryland.gov or call the state’s multilingual call center, available seven days a week, at 1-855-MD-GOVAXX (1-855-634-6829).