Posted on 01/10/22
| News Source: Pikesville Patch
As the highly contagious omicron coronavirus variant spreads, Maryland hospitals are treating record numbers of coronavirus patients.
In Maryland, officials say 3,364 people were hospitalized with COVID-19 as of Monday, the most so far during the pandemic. In addition, the Maryland Department of Health reports 12,016 people have died from the virus since the pandemic started.
When Gov. Larry Hogan declared a state of emergency last week, 3,057 hospital patients had the coronavirus, and he said the number could reach 5,000 in the weeks ahead.
Across the state, adult acute care and ICU beds are 94 percent occupied, according to Bob Atlas, president and CEO of the Maryland Hospital Association.
"Hospitals are virtually full," Atlas said in a statement to Patch on Monday. "The problem is statewide. Thirteen hospitals — more than one fourth of our general acute care facilities — are now working under crisis standards of care due to the latest COVID-19 surge."