The Hamilton County Health Department reported the highest single-day number of hospitalizations and people in the intensive care unit related to COVID-19 on Tuesday, signaling a worsening outbreak and further spread of the virus a day after officials said the virus is stretching the agency thin.
As of Tuesday, there were 46 people hospitalized locally and 18 people in the ICU with the coronavirus, higher than at any other point in the pandemic and breaking the previous single-day highs of 37 and 17, respectively. The previous single-day high for hospitalizations occurred on June 6.
On Monday, Becky Barnes, Hamilton County Health Department administrator, said the virus is spreading across all ZIP codes, workers, living situations and demographics – indicating that community spread is occurring, as well as spread from reopening businesses.
As of last month, officials were saying much of the spread was occurring among multigenerational families and essential workers – or those who worked throughout the pandemic, and therefore were not directly affected by the recent easing of restrictions allowing the economy to reopen.
Officials have said that it’s important to follow data trends over time rather than focus on single-day jumps. However, Tuesday’s growth in hospitalizations continues a trend that began May 30. Since then, Hamilton County hospitals have cared for more than 30 patients with COVID-19 every day.