OHIO, USA — Leaders at six children's hospitals across Ohio are asking for help in stopping the spread of COVID-19 in kids.
In an open letter to all Ohioans, the leaders say more kids are coming into the hospitals with COVID, being hospitalized and are in the ICU with the virus more than ever before.
They also say more kids are coming into the hospitals with other respiratory illnesses like RSV that they typically don't see until the winter.
To help fight COVID, the leaders are asking all Ohioans to do what they can to help protect to state's children, which includes getting vaccinated if they are able, wear a mask during school and while attending large gatherings, and adhering to safe practices like social distancing and hand washing.
The letter goes on to say their workforce, which faced staffing challenges prior to COVID-19, is being strained at unprecedented levels.
"This is a reality for us today. And it's threatening the capacity of our pediatric safety net in ways we have never experienced before," the letter says.
The letter is signed by the six CEOs and presidents of:
- Nationwide Children's Hospital
- Dayton Children's
- Akron Children's Hospital
- ProMedica Russell J. Ebeid Children's Hospital
- Rainbow Babies And Children's Hospital
- Cincinnati Children's
The open letter comes less than 12 hours after the state's health department said hospitalizations from the virus are roughly 10 times higher than what they were in early July.
