Indiana COVID-19 hospitalizations hit new peak amid omicron

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Indiana hospitals are reporting a record number of COVID-19 patients as the highly contagious omicron variant continues driving a statewide surge.

An update posted Tuesday on the state health department's coronavirus dashboard shows Indiana's COVID-19 hospitalizations reached 3,467 on Monday, eclipsing the previous pandemic peak of 3,460 the state set on Nov. 30, 2020. COVID-19 patients occupied 38.4% of Indiana's intensive care unit beds as of Monday and Indiana had only 10.6% of its ICU beds available overall.

Brian Tabor, president of the Indiana Hospital Association, says Indiana's current surge in COVID-19 patients combined with non-COVID-19 patients seeking care has created a "crisis" for Indiana hospitals.