Hospitals on the Treasure Coast are now shifting policies to slow the spread. Cleveland Clinic in Martin and St. Lucie counties have just reported that their emergency rooms are seeing high numbers of patients.

Amid the Omicron surge, Cleveland Clinic has shifted to level red as beds continue to fill with coronavirus-infected patients.

COVID-19 hospitalizations in Florida have more than doubled in a week.

Florida Hospital Association is reporting than more than 7,000 people, who are hospitalized, have COVID-19. Last week, there were close to 3,000.

The sudden and overwhelming number of infections threatens to undermine local emergency rooms. So healthcare officials issued this announcement; tweeting out that, “Cleveland Clinic Florida ERs are seeing high numbers of patients. To help us focus on urgent medical emergencies, we are limiting COVID-19 testing in our ERs to patients being admitted to the hospital.”

It’s become very difficult for hospitals to manage the influx when hundreds of employees are out sick with COVID-19.

Florida hospitals’ staff shortages are straining an already depleted, exhausted workforce amid a coronavirus surge.

Since the onset of the pandemic, administrators here have had to rely on more costly travel nurses to help carry the caseload.

Visitation is now limited to one person per patient and each person has to wear a mask and undergo a COVID19 screen before they are permitted inside of the hospital.

In St. Lucie County, Lawnwood Medical Center and St Lucie Medical Center are not shifting policies.