Ohio 'Extremely Close' To Rationing Care Due To COVID-19 Surge

COLUMBUS, OH — As Ohio's hospitals are increasingly strained by the COVID-19 surge, health officials are warning hospital systems are close to "rationing care."

Dr. Bruce Vanderhoff, the state's chief medical officer, said Ohio hospitals are "very close" to having to ration care due to the surge of COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations. More than 3,800 Ohioans are currently hospitalized due to the virus.

"The threat posed to our state cannot be overstated. The actions of the people of Ohio will be the determining factor of what the future looks like. We have to band together, we have to be protective of one another," Vanderhoff said.

Vanderhoff and Bruce White, CEO of Knox Community Hospital, said staffing shortages caused by the virus could soon lead to deferred surgeries and rationed care. He expressed his concern about a lack of health care workers and overworked doctors and nurses.

"Earlier in the pandemic, we were worried about PPE, the issue now is manpower. I work with amazingly dedicated people - every day they perform miracles, but they can't perform magic," White said during a news conference Thursday.

Gov. Mike DeWine said much of the state's spread is coming from how Ohioans are behaving in their personal lives. Families and friends are increasingly gathering indoors, without masks, and allowing the virus to spread.

Ohio would have broken its record for most new COVID-19 cases confirmed in a single day on Wednesday and Thursday, except health officials have decided to double-check 12,000 positive antigen tests.