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Cuyahoga County health commissioner: 'The unvaccinated continue to drive up this hospital surge'

Cuyahoga County leaders held a COVID-19 briefing on Wednesday as cases and hospitalizations continue to spike.

CLEVELAND — Cuyahoga County Executive Armond Budish and local health officials held a press briefing on Wednesday to address the county's ongoing response to COVID-19.

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In addition to Budish, Board of Health Commissioner Terry Allan, MPH, and Board of Health Director of Epidemiology, Surveillance & Informatics Jana Rush MPH, MA, spoke at Wednesday's press conference. 

The press briefing happened as the omicron virus continues to cause the number of COVID-19 cases to surge across the county and the nation. Cuyahoga County is currently averaging roughly 2,000 cases per day. At this time in 2021, the county was averaging 425 cases a day. 

"We remain in crisis mode. The unvaccinated continue to drive up this hospital surge," Allan cautioned. As of Wednesday, 60% of Cuyahoga County residents are fully vaccinated.

Rush reported that there are nearly 2,000 COVID-19 patients hospitalized in Cuyahoga County. "And that's climbing," she added, noting that 180 admissions are taking place on average every day. 82% of the county's critical care hospital beds are currently filled. The positivity rate of COVID-19 testing in Cuyahoga County is over 35% in a period between December 14-27.

During his remarks, Budish encouraged residents to utilize COVID risk calculators, specifically pointing out the Harvard University tool, to help evaluate your safety in situations such as going out to eat and taking off your mask, or being at a party with a small group of friends.

"None of us want to lock ourselves away in seclusion for weeks or months.  But we also don’t want to get sick," he added.

Allan also encouraged county businesses to have employees work from home when possible to help reduce the spread of the virus. 

You can watch Wednesday's briefing in the player below:

More coronavirus coverage from WKYC:




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