Posted on 10/29/22
| News Source: WMAR2NEWS
Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan is directing hospitals to focus on staffing pediatric ICUs and prepare for pediatric surge operations, as the RSV (respiratory syncytial virus) rates continue to spike here and nationwide, primarily affecting young children.
Hogan said today the state is preparing for potential surges in fall and winter COVID-19 and flu, alongside RSV. Experts told ABC News that the U.S. may be facing the threat of a "tripledemic" as fall and winter set in.
Children’s National Hospital in D.C. was nearing capacity as of last week, and some hospitals in Maryland are reporting higher cases and some are at capacity for pediatric beds.
The state said in a press release today:
"RSV hospitalizations are increasing earlier and more rapidly than in previous years, with the 0-2 age group comprising 57% of hospitalizations."
Hogan's administration is directing hospitals to put $25 million in state funds that they got earlier this month toward hiring and recruiting more staff. Facilities with pediatric beds should also prioritize staffing those units first, and all hospitals are "strongly urged" to work with each other on pediatric patient care.