Washington County sees highest average COVID-19 hospitalizations since pandemic began

WASHINGTON, Pa. — COVID-19 cases are climbing in western Pennsylvania, and an alarming trend is being seen in Washington County: the highest average of COVID-19 hospitalizations of any time during the pandemic.

“When you go to emergency rooms in Washington County, you will likely have a four-hour delay for treatment,” Washington County Commissioner Diana Irey-Vaughn says.

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Irey-Vaughn says more people are getting sick from COVID-19 and they’re requiring hospitalization. Washington County health leaders say 80% of the significantly ill folks in hospitals are unvaccinated. Those who are vaccinated and become sick have less severe symptoms, the county commissioner added.

“We continue to be concerned about the numbers rising,” Irey-Vaughn said. “It makes it more challenging to receive treatment when your symptoms are significant.”

The beds are available, but the staff isn’t on top of flu season and more people returning to doctor’s offices and hospitals for treatment they put off earlier in the pandemic.

UPMC’s top doctors are urging people get vaccinated especially as a new variant, Omicron emerges.

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“We have a lot of concerns about the Delta virus or the emerging Omicron virus to become more prevalent and cause more problems during the winter holidays,” Dr. Graham Snyder, Chief Medical Director of Infection Prevention and Hospital Epidemiology at UPMC, said.

Snyder says there’s a lot we still don’t know about Omicron and there’s no need to panic. Preparedness with the vaccine is what he suggests. He also recommends a flu shot.

“We need to wait to see what this variant means and how vulnerable we may be to infection,” Snyder added.

Further east, the Westmoreland County Prison in Hempfield is dealing with another outbreak. Nine inmates tested positive Monday after 37 cases last week. The work release program has been shut down and the prison halted all outside volunteers. The policy to take inmates between the jail and courthouse or Magistrate offices will be re-evaluated at the end of the week.

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And while cities like New York and Boston are mandating indoor masking, UPMC doctors say wearing a mask and social distancing should be considered, especially this time of year when people gather in large group and indoor spaces.

Pittsburgh doctors prepare for possibility of COVID-19 omicron variant