US on track to have record COVID-19 hospitalizations

COVID-19 hospitalizations in the United States are set to surpass a record as quickly as Tuesday as cases driven by the omicron variant surge, The Washington Post reported.

Some 141,385 COVID-19 patients were reportedly hospitalized on Monday, just slightly below the all-time record that occurred in January 2021.

Last winter, before vaccinations were readily available, 142,273 patients were hospitalized with COVID-19, the Post noted.

Disease modelers predict that total hospitalizations in the U.S. will hit 275,000 to 300,000 at the omicron variant’s peak, which is likely to occur later in January, according to the newspaper.

The spike has reportedly resulted in unprecedented staff shortages at medical facilities that are overwhelmed by so many patients needing care, which is creating the perfect storm for a crisis at hospitals nationwide. 

Cases have also skyrocketed to more than 700,000 a day in the United States, which is much greater than last year’s wave, reports The New York Times.

Health experts point out, however, that caseloads may now be of lower concern than during prior waves because of the lessened virulence of the omicron variant, coupled with the number of Americans protected by vaccines and booster doses, which, in particular, significantly increase protection from infection and severe illness, hospitalization and death. 

The omicron variant, however, is far more contagious than previous COVID-19 variants, thus causing more cases overall. But with the significant volume of cases and vast number of those still unvaccinated in the country, a deep strain is still placed on hospitals.

Hospitalization numbers provide a key marker for the pandemic’s current severity, as they show the effects of the virus outside of testing limitations and minor cases, the Times notes.

COVID-19 deaths are not increasing as fast as cases, according to the newspaper but still warrant concern for health officials. 

Updated at 8:46 a.m.