Healthcare workers are urging people to get vaccinated and wear masks when indoors on Wednesday, the day Ohio saw its record number of COVID-19 cases and total hospitalizations: 20,320 positive people and 5,356 patients.

Governor Mike DeWine said hospitals are begging for help. He responded by announcing that an additional 1,250 Ohio National Guardsman will be deployed to hospitals across the state, one week after some were sent to help healthcare staff shortages.

DeWine said the reason for the current hospitalization rates comes down to the lack of Ohioans getting vaccinated. The majority of Ohioans have been eligible for COVID-19 vaccines since June 1. There have been almost 36,000 hospitalizations from then until now. The Governor noted that 92.5% of those patients were unvaccinated.

The northern region of Ohio is one of the hardest hit in the country as the highly contagious Omicron variant continues to spread rapidly. Ohio National Guard General John Harris said there are 460 guardsman alone are stationed at Cleveland area hospitals.

Walker Center in Cleveland runs one of the largest mass testing sites in the country, administering 2,000 a day. State officials said 36% of people tested there daily are returning positive results. Cuyahoga County alone is seeing 3,000 cases a day. Exactly 25% of tests statewide are showing up positive as of Wednesday.

The overwhelming number of people being treated for the virus is tremendously felt by healthcare workers. 

Everyday, Jennifer Hollis goes to work as a registered nurse at OhioHealth Riverside Methodist Hospital, and hears the constant beeping of ventilators and IV pumps.

"My colleagues and I pray that someone is not dealing with life threatening issues," she said. "Hospital staffs are so busy, maxed and tired. We don't want to miss that chance to help someone who is dying." 

Now that Ohio is seeing larger numbers than the previous COVID-19 peak last winter, doctors are saying that the public should expect the virus to eventually turn from pandemic to an endemic.

"We do have to learn how to live with COVID-19," said Dr. Bruce Vanderhoff. "Which means we need to take steps to prepare for that world. Keep your COVID vaccines up to date. Each winter as we approach virus season, we need to take steps and limit the things we do. We are not continuing to anticipate what we have at to endure what we did during these first few years of the COVID pandemic."

DeWine stressed the same idea about peak cases.

"We do not expect this to last forever," he said. Things are going to get better. We have to do what we have to do today."

The governor also responded to those calling for a statewide mask mandate. He said he will not order one because of the resources like vaccines that are easily accessible and combat the virus.