COVID hospitalizations high at Firelands

SANDUSKY — COVID-19 continues to have a significant presence in Erie County, with a large number of new cases and the highest patient count in months at the local hospital. Firelands Regional Medical Center reported 39 COVID-19 patients Tuesday, up from 33 reported last week, according to figures the Erie County Health Department released Tuesday in its weekly press release. The 39 patients are the largest number of coronavirus patients at Firelands since last winter. Of the 39 patients at Firelands, 30 were unvaccinated, the hospital said. A graphic released on the hospital's Facebook page Monday appeared to reinforce another longstanding trend: The sickest patients in the hospital also tend to be unvaccinated. On Monday, all seven of the patients on ventilators were unvaccinated. Of the 14 patients at Firelands receiving critical care, 13 were unvaccinated. The health department reported 335 new cases of COVID-19 Tuesday, down only slightly from the 339 new cases reported last week, which represented a recent peak. Erie County recorded one new COVID-19 death, bringing the death toll up to 248 since the pandemic began. Ashley Franks, the health department's epidemiologist, reported Monday that the case rate in Erie County remains high, although there were no new outbreaks reported. Cases also have been rising nationally. The seven-day moving average for new cases on Sunday was 91,021, the CDC said. On Oct. 25, it was 67,987. But while cases have been rising, the continuing effort to vaccinate larger amounts of the population apparently has brought the death rate down. The CDC reported a seven-day average of 1,856 deaths on Sept. 20. On Nov. 21, it was 985. As for vaccinations, Erie County has given one shot to about 58% of the population, Ohio reports one shot has been given to about 57% of the population, and the U.S. has given one shot to about 70% of the population. Health care organizations in the area continue to announce they are requiring vaccinations to comply with a federal mandate. Magruder Hospital in Port Clinton announced Monday it will require all employees, and all contract workers treating patients, to complete becoming vaccinated by Jan. 4. Like other local health care organizations, Magruder cited a mandate imposed by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. The Magruder announcement follows vaccination mandates announced by Firelands Health, Fisher-Titus Medical Center and the Erie County Health Department.