Gov. Jim Justice, Dr. Clay Mash and Gen. James Hoyer continued their push for vaccinations and boosters in the Mountain State Monday, as hospitalization numbers continue to increase due to the omicron variant. According to Marsh, 94% of sequenced cases have been omicron.
After reading an additional 36 deaths — bringing West Virginia to 5,645 — Justice said he and his team have told us time and again that omicron would “run rampant,” and indeed it has, pushing the limits of the state’s hospitals. Once again, he urged residents to get vaccinated, and if they have been vaccinated, to make sure to get their booster shot.
“You have to,” he said.
The National Guard continues to respond to requests from hospitals for additional staffing. Today and throughout this week, guard members will be dispatched to 25 hospitals to help ease the burdens being caused by rising patient numbers and decreased staff.
Staffing issues are being made more difficult due to hospital staff becoming infected themselves, and because of burnout and the stress of dealing with this pandemic day in and day out.
On Monday, hospitalizations clocked in at 976, with 223 in the ICU and 104 on vents. Of those, 11 are pediatric cases, with four in the ICU.
These numbers are particularly concerning, Marsh said, because we know we aren’t at peak yet and resources are already being tried. Many hospitals are operating at crisis level.
Emergency services are still being offered, but it’s becoming more and more difficult to move people through the system, due to lack of beds, as well as proper staff.
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