ANNAPOLIS (AP) — Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan introduced further actions Wednesday to arrange for an additional surge in COVID-19 amid rising hospitalizations.

The Maryland Health Department and different state companies have been working every day with Maryland’s hospitals and the Maryland Hospital Association to make sure affected person mattress capability since November. State companies have been assembly weekly with hospital management to raise subjects of concern, the governor’s workplace stated.

“As I announced last week, we are continuing to closely monitor the rise in COVID-19 hospitalizations and use every tool at our disposal to make sure our hospitals have the resources they need to prepare for this and future surges,” Hogan stated, whereas urging residents to get vaccinated or get a booster shot.

On Wednesday, Maryland reported there have been 1,151 hospitalizations within the state. While that was down 22 from the day gone by, the variety of hospitalizations in Maryland have greater than doubled prior to now month. A month in the past, there have been 508 hospitalizations within the state.

FILE – Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan speaks alongside Maryland Health Secretary Dennis Schrader throughout a information convention, Dec. 1, 2021 in Annapolis, Md. Gov. Hogan has introduced further actions to arrange for an additional surge in COVID-19 hospitalizations. Hogan stated Wednesday, Dec. 15, 2021 that state well being officers have issued a new directive ordering hospitals to undertake actions when sure state COVID-19 hospitalization thresholds are reached. (AP Photo/Brian Witte, file)

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The well being division was hit by a cyberattack earlier this month, and its web site displaying knowledge on COVID-19 has been restricted in its every day updates. It has resumed updates for vaccinations and hospitalizations.

As a part of the actions introduced by the governor Wednesday, Maryland has created a Surge Operation Center to handle the state’s every day operations surrounding a sustained COVID-19 surge at hospitals, together with a possible sudden inflow of unvaccinated sufferers, the governor stated.

State well being officers even have issued a new directive ordering hospitals to undertake actions when sure state COVID-19 hospitalization thresholds are reached.

For instance, when Maryland reaches 1,200 hospitalizations, hospitals have been ordered to make obtainable all staffed mattress capability and to scale back scheduling non-urgent medical surgical procedures that may end in an in a single day keep. At 1,500, hospitals are directed to implement their pandemic plans.

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Hospitals have been directed to right away replace their current pandemic plans.

The governor additionally introduced steps to handle healthcare staffing wants. State well being officers are working with state boards to advance emergency rules to reinforce healthcare staffing at hospitals.

This article initially appeared on The Herald-Mail: Maryland preps for COVID-19 surge as hospitalizations rise



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