Maryland COVID-19 hospitalizations more than double in weeks as health officials urge booster rounds – CBS Baltimore

BALTIMORE (WJZ) – Covid-19 hospitalizations are trending in the wrong direction in Maryland.

“We are monitoring hospitalizations very carefully,” said Dr. Chuck Callahan, deputy director of population health at UMMC. “Compared to the same date last year, you’re still a third lower than you were last year.”

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Tuesday, the state health department reported nearly 1,200 hospitalizations for COVID-19, a number Maryland hasn’t seen since April.

Governor Larry Hogan said that number has more than doubled in recent weeks.

“The vast majority of people are still hospitalized, four in five are unvaccinated across the state,” Callahan said.

Officials are urging those who qualify that now is the time to get vaccinated and boosted as new variants circulate.

“We know that the higher the number of people in the population being vaccinated, the greater the chance that we might harbor other variants,” said Callahan.

“Every day I get an email from work that says someone has tested positive,” said Nina Profili, who lives in Baltimore.

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That’s one reason why Nina Profili was recently given a booster shot.

“Try to pull back and prepare yourself,” says Profili.

Rodney Salvador is also intending to roll up his sleeves again, but in the meantime, he’s not taking any chances.

“Everywhere I go, I wear a mask. If I’m in a crowd, I’ll wear my mask,” Salvador said.

Doctors also say testing remains an important part of this pandemic.

“If you’re at risk or you know people who are at risk, getting tested before going to that gathering is another way to make sure you’re not bringing something other than food into the pot,” says Callahan. mixed hot pot.

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Here are some of the soon-to-be-free community clinics in the City of Baltimore:

• State Center: 300 W. Preston Street, immunizations Tuesdays and Thursdays from 8:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. and Saturdays from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Immunizations for people 5 years of age and older and for the third dose / booster, 16+
• Mondawmin Shopping Center: steps from a metro stop and convenient for holiday shoppers, also has clinics until December 16, December 20 and December 21 from 8am to 5pm pm for 12+; and 12/22 from 8am to 3pm for 12+
• Right after Christmas, while the kids are still off, additional clinics are scheduled at Mondawmin Mall on Dec 27, Dec 28, Dec 29 from 11am to 5pm for 5+ (and for third dose/booster, 16+ )