Hospitalizations by COVID-19 in the US reached levels not seen since last winter

(CNN)-The propagation of the omicron variant of the new coronavirus is causing a generalized interruption in the United States as hospitalizations reach a level not seen from the rebound recorded during the end of the end of the year of 2020-21.

More than 141.000 Americans remained hospitalized with COVID-19 until Monday, according to data from the Department of Health and Human Services, approaching the 142 record.246 hospitalizations of January 14, 2021.

This is overloading medical care networks while hospitals jug in the face of personnel problems caused by the increase in demand, which adds to the fact that employees, who run a greater risk of infection, have to isolate themselves and recover laterto give positive.

In Virginia, Governor Ralph Northam declared a limited state of emergency on Monday because the number of hospitalizations in the ICUs doubled since December 1.The order allows hospitals to expand the ability to beds and provide more flexibility in staffing, he said.And he added that it also expands the use of the Telesalud, as well as medical professionals who can administer vaccines.

In Texas, at least 2 have been hired, trained and deployed.700 health workers to help with rebound.They join more than.300 workers already sent to the entire State, said the State Department of Texas Health Services in a statement to CNN.

Kentucky has mobilized the National Guard to provide support, with the shipment of 445 members to 30 medical care centers, the State announced.

"Omicron continues to burning in the community, growing at levels that we had never seen before.Omicron is significantly more contagious than even the Delta variant, "said Kentucky governor Andy Beshear, and pointed out that the previous variant caused an increase in cases in the summer and autumn months.

"If it spreads to the rhythm we are seeing, our hospitals will undoubtedly fill out," he said, and Kentucky "has 134 beds available in the ICU for adults".

In Kansas, the Health System of the University of Kansas (UKHS), which announced a record number of patients with COVID-19, is "moving personnel from areas that can support the support functions of direct care to the patient," he saidChris Ruder, OKHS Operations Director."That can be to manage a laboratory, it can be a simple patient transport.That kind of thing in which we can help other people ".

Mitigation measures, such as the mandatory use of masks, are also being reactivated in some areas.

The governor of Delaware, John Carney, signed on Monday a universal mandate for the use of indoor masks due to the increase in hospitalizations, with some hospitals "with more than 100% of the bed capacity for hospitalized patients in the middle of a shortage of personnelparalyzing, "he said in a statement.Churches and places of worship are exempt from the mandate, while companies must provide masks to customers and have signs about the interior mask use requirements.

"I know that we are all exhausted by this pandemic.But with the level of hospitalizations we are seeing, it is possible that the inhabitants of Delaware who need emergency care cannot obtain it.That's a fact.It's time for everyone to collaborate and do what works.Use your interior mask.Avoid meetings or consider that they will contract and spread the Covid.Empt and, if eligible, apply a reinforcement dose.This is how we will overcome this rebound without endangering more lives, "said Carney.

Schools face bomicron problems

The debate on school security against COVID-19 continues, since only one in six children ages 5 to 11 is fully vaccinated, according to data from the Centers for the control and prevention of EE diseases.UU.(CDC).

While Los Angeles prepared to return to school on Tuesday, approximately 62.000 students and employees tested positive for COVID-19 and will have to stay at home, according to the data of the Los Angeles Unified School District on Monday.This is equivalent to a positivity rate of 14.99%.The Los Angeles County Positivity rate in general, compared to 22%.

In Chicago, educators will return to school on Tuesday and it is scheduled that students will resume the face -to -face classes on Wednesday after a dispute of almost a week.The Chicago Teacher Union had voted last week in favor of teaching at a distance, and the school district responded by canceling classes for four days.

The agreement, announced Monday night, included metrics on when a classroom would have to return to the distance classes due to Covid-19 levels.

In areas where schools have returned to face-to-face classes after vacations, the time necessary for people with COVID-19 to recover have affected some essential services.

A Greensboro School District, North Carolina, suspended transport bus transport for eight of its secondary schools starting Monday due to the "serious shortage of bus drivers that worsened by the increase in cases of COVID-19",According to a statement from Guilford County Schools.

"Until this weekend, we don't have enough bus drivers to continue serving all students, so we had to make some really difficult decisions," said GCS operations director Michelle Reed.

To compensate for pressure on parents and guardians, the district has developed an association "that will allow high school students to travel on the city's buses for free," according to the GCS statement.

Other sectors continue to be affected

The voltage of the increase in the omicron variant has not only affected health workers and educators, but other sectors are also battling due to the high infection rate.

Some municipalities have seen almost a quarter of their garbage collection workforce..

"Unfortunately, this coincided with the increase in garbage and recycling volumes associated with the festivities.However, we hope that as the volumes and sanitation workers decrease they return to work, these delays will be temporary, "said Executive Director and CEO David Biderman in a statement on Monday.

As for trips, the USAs.UU.Thousands of more flights canceled over the weekend due to the absences of the staff by COVID-19 and the winter storms.For its part, the Royal Caribbean International cruise line announced that it canceled trips in four ships due to "ongoing circumstances related to Covid worldwide".Last week, Norwegian Cruise Line canceled the trips of eight ships.

Public transport systems in the main metropolitan areas, such as New York and Washington City have had to reduce the service because there are COVID-19 sick employees.

In Detroit, between 20% and 25% of the Smart bus service has been canceled or delayed, the agency said in a statement on Saturday.

And Portland buses, Oregon, "face the most significant deficit of operators in the history of the agency".The bus service was reduced by 9% until Sunday, said the agency.

Rosa Flores, Claudia Domínguez, David Shortell, Pete Muntean, Deidre McPhillips, Melissa Alonso, Hannah Sarisohn, Cheri Mossburg and Jenn Selva de CNN contributed to this report to this report.