Maryland surpasses 1,500 COVID-19 hospitalizations, additional actions being taken to manage hospital capacity

ANNAPOLIS, Md. – Governor Larry Hogan announced Thursday morning that the State of Maryland has surpassed 1,500 COVID-19 hospitalizations.

This means hospitals across the state will take additional actions, as required by a Maryland Department of Health order issued earlier this month. Steps for hospitals to take as part of pandemic plans include:

• Optimize existing bed capacity
• Adjust hospital capacity, such as bringing additional staffed beds into service
• Redeploy staff or alter staffing models
• Reduce non-urgent and elective procedures and surgeries
• Transfer patients to alternate care sites
• Bridge idle clinical or administrative space online or convert other space for clinical care

The governor issued the following statement:

“Our projections now show that in the coming weeks, we could reach record levels of COVID-19 hospitalizations in Maryland, possibly over 2,000. We have been actively preparing for this scenario in coordination with all of our hospitals, and today’s actions are the latest step in that planning. With unvaccinated patients driving the strain on our health care system, we urge Marylanders to do your part by getting your vaccine or booster shot as soon as you can. We will continue to closely monitor this surge, and take additional actions as needed.”