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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE MEDIA CONTACT December 27, 2021 Communications@FHA.org Florida Hospital Association Provides COVID-19 Omicron Update TALLAHASSEE, FL – The Florida Hospital Association, the state’s leading voice for hospitals and health systems, provided the following update today on COVID-19 and the omicron variant in the state. FHA also announced that starting today, December 27, a COVID-19 hospitalization and case data dashboard will be shared on Twitter (@FLHospitalAssn) every weekday by 3 pm (EDT). Statewide data is derived from the federal Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). COVID-19 Hospital Update: Peak (8/23/21) Delta Today (12/27/21) Omicron Hospitalizations 17,121 2,075 Inpatient Bed Availability 12.9% 29% Adult ICU Bed Availability 4.7% 31% “At this stage, we are seeing a slight increase in COVID hospitalizations after many weeks of extremely low hospitalizations. But with the significant number of daily cases and the challenging workforce shortages, hospitals are monitoring these trends closely and readying their surge plans,” said Mary C. Mayhew, President and CEO, Florida Hospital Association. “Based on the experiences in other countries and in other states that have been hit by this latest variant, we are optimistic that the Omicron variant will result in less severe illness. Unfortunately, omicron appears to be more contagious and still could lead to increased hospitalizations simply because of the volume of individuals affected. Currently, the numbers are still relatively small compared to what we experienced during the delta surge this summer, and hospitals statewide have significant bed availability to treat COVID and non-COVID patients. Throughout the pandemic, hospitals have been able to demonstrate their ability to respond to COVID while maintaining excellent quality of care, and we are confident those standards will be upheld.” Vaccination remains the best protection against hospitalization and severe illness if infected. The Florida Hospital Association urges individuals to get vaccinated and get the booster to reduce hospitalizations and ultimately save lives. The Florida Hospital Association will continue communicating with all Florida hospitals and state officials and provide additional updates as events warrant. If you have any questions or additional media inquiries, please contact the Florida Hospital Association at Communications@FHA.org. View the December 27, 2021 COVID Dashboard. ### About the Florida Hospital Association Founded in 1927, the Florida Hospital Association is the leading voice for health care in the State of Florida. Through representation and advocacy, education and informational services, the Florida Hospital Association supports the mission of more than 200 hospitals and health care systems to provide the highest quality of care to the patients we serve. Led by President and CEO Mary Mayhew, the Florida Hospital Association office is in Tallahassee and is governed by a Board of Trustees and officers elected by the member institutions. For more information, visit www.fha.org. [[UNSUBSCRIBELINK]] from all FHA e-communications. 306 East College Avenue | Tallahassee, FL 32301 | Website
FHA also announced that starting today, December 27, a COVID-19 hospitalization and case data dashboard will be shared on Twitter (@FLHospitalAssn) every weekday by 3 pm (EDT).
Statewide data is derived from the federal Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).
COVID-19 Hospital Update:
Peak (8/23/21) Delta
Today (12/27/21) Omicron
Hospitalizations
17,121
2,075
Inpatient Bed Availability
12.9%
29%
Adult ICU Bed Availability
4.7%
31%
Vaccination remains the best protection against hospitalization and severe illness if infected. The Florida Hospital Association urges individuals to get vaccinated and get the booster to reduce hospitalizations and ultimately save lives.
The Florida Hospital Association will continue communicating with all Florida hospitals and state officials and provide additional updates as events warrant.
If you have any questions or additional media inquiries, please contact the Florida Hospital Association at Communications@FHA.org.
View the December 27, 2021 COVID Dashboard.
[[UNSUBSCRIBELINK]] from all FHA e-communications. 306 East College Avenue | Tallahassee, FL 32301 | Website