Clinic reports highest number of COVID-19 patients since last winter, and predicts worst is yet to come - cleveland.com

The Cleveland Clinic is caring for the highest number of COVID-19 patients since last winter, and the volume is expected to rise.

CLEVELAND, Ohio — The Cleveland Clinic is now seeing its highest volume of COVID-19 patients since last winter, causing long wait times in Clinic emergency departments, and fewer nonessential surgeries.

The Clinic’s forecasts predict the highest volumes of COVID-19 patients will come in the next several weeks, as this current pandemic wave peaks in northern Ohio, the hospital system said in a statement Monday.

This is more than double the number of patients that were hospitalized with COVID-19 at the Clinic one month ago.

Some locations — including Cleveland Clinic Akron General, Cleveland Clinic Mercy Hospital in Canton and Cleveland Clinic Union Hospital in Dover — are scheduling fewer nonessential surgeries that require an inpatient stay.