12 Influenza Hospitalizations In Ohio: Flu Update

OHIO — Twelve Ohioans have had to be hospitalized this year because of influenza, according to the Ohio Department of Health.

Gov. Mike DeWine and leading health officials have been urging Ohioans to get a flu shot to prevent further strain on Ohio's already taxed hospitals.

"We can't tell yet how severe this season is going to be," DeWine said. "We ask everyone to get a flu shot."

DeWine unveiled Ohio's new influenza tracking dashboard on Thursday. The dashboard will indicate whether flu hospitalizations or case of flu-like illness are on the rise or decline, as compared to the previous week and five-year averages.

No region has been hit particularly hard by the flu, yet, according to the data. Of Ohio's seven regions, none have had more than three influenza-related hospitalizations.

Here are influenza hospitalizations broken down by Ohio's regions:

• Northwest — 2
• Northeast — 0
• East Central — 3
• Central — 1
• West Central — 2
• Southwest — 3
• Southeast — 1

Ohio's hospitals are straining under the most recent surge of COVID-19 cases.

Prior to this most recent wave, the most COVID-19 patients being cared for in hospitals statewide was 1,100. As of Wednesday, there approximately 3,000 COVID-19 patients in Ohio hospitals.

Intensive care units(ICU) have been hit particularly hard. Last month, there were 240 patients in ICU spaces. There are now more than 700 Ohioans in ICUs because of coronavirus.

The Cleveland Clinic is now postponing some nonessential surgeries as COVID-19 hospitalizations continue to spike in Ohio.