SUMMIT COUNTY, Ohio — Early messaging might have had an unintended, negative effect, making people less cautious than they should be about contracting and spreading COVID-19, health officials said last week.
The “extremely contagious” omicron variant has been driving up infection rates since Thanksgiving, filling local ICUs and jamming up the EMS network, officials said during a live-streamed news conference.
“We were so excited about a vaccine that was really effective,” said Summit County Health Commissioner Donna Skoda. “I think we just went crazy and said, ‘Hey, it’s 90% effective,’ and that translated to a lot of people that you’re free, go out, run around and do what you want to do.”
Now, Cleveland Clinic-Akron General and Summa Health System are bearing the brunt of the latest wave of infections, at a time when staffing is lean and fatigue is high, said Summa CEO Dr. Cliff Deveny.
“The burden on the health system is real,” he said. “What I think is the hardest thing is to watch our caregivers.”
Summa health care workers are pulling double shifts, getting called to work in the middle of the night, helping out in other departments and working short-staffed, he said.
Of the 190 patients Summa is now treating for COVID-19, 91% are not vaccinated, he said. Out of more than 10,500 patients treated at Summa for COVID, more than 500 have died.
Cleveland Clinic-Akron General has a similar story, said CEO Dr. Brian Harte. For the past few weeks, the clinic has treated between 120 and 140 COVID-positive patients, which consumes nearly one-third of all the beds in the hospital, he said.
Patients with COVID are taking up about two-thirds of the system’s intensive care capacity, and of those patients, 89% are not vaccinated, he said.
“That’s what we’re seeing on a daily basis. And between one and five are dying here at Cleveland Clinic-Akron General every single day,” he said.
Mayor Dan Horrigan said the increase in cases is having a ripple effect on other services. Wait times for EMS transport have increased about 30% because of the number of people trying to get into the hospitals, he said.
“Vaccines are way out of the situation, and a lack of the number of people getting the vaccine is leading to the increased number of hospitalizations not to mention the economic harm, the staff burnout, and literally the pressure being put on these on these institutions,” Horrigan said.
Emergency departments are open for those who need immediate care, the officials said. But people are advised to rely on their primary care physician or telehealth conferences unless they have an emergency.
The omicron variant makes up about 73% of all cases in the county, and is as contagious as measles, which is extremely contagious, Skoda said.
About 12% of people who’ve tested positive are asymptomatic, which makes it risky to be in a group, she said.
Over the holiday people will feel comfortable spending time with their families but should not let their guard down, she said. People should remain masked unless they are eating and, at gatherings, everyone should social distance. If possible, windows should be opened for ventilation.
“If you’re unvaccinated you should just stay home. I mean, it’s very dangerous to be out,” she said. “We have positivity rates as high as 25% to 30% in communities. That’s a lot of positive people running around.”
Beginning in January, the health department will offer vaccination appointments every day, offering all three brands — Pfizer, Moderna and J&J, she said. The health department also will assess whether large-scale, drive-thru clinics are needed.
Vaccination appointments can be made online for the health department and several local pharmacies.
Akron City Councill President Margo Sommerville, who is a funeral director, weighed in, encouraging people to get vaccinated.
“I see firsthand the high numbers of preventable deaths and the burdens, and long-lasting effects that are placed on families,” she said. “You do not want to find yourself or your loved one in an ICU right now.”
Summit County schools have had a few spikes in cases, and a lot of spread, Skoda said. Some went back to mask mandates and others never lifted them.
Currently, there are no plans to close schools but some have let older students go remote, she said. Many are waiting until closer to the date schools restart after winter break to make decisions.
Visit the Summit County Public Health website to view the COVID-19 dashboard, which provides information on infections and vaccinations.
