CHARLOTTESVILLE (WINA) – UVa Health is seeing higher COVID hospitalization numbers, and a change in the nature of the people who are now being hospitalized. Chief Epidemiologist Dr. Costi Sifri says Friday morning, they were treating 40 COVID cases — with 5 in the ICU. That’s up from the teens and 20s we’ve seen throughout the fall.

He says in addition to higher numbers… the nature of those being hospitalized have changed. Until recently, hospitalizations were occuring from those testing positive who were there for another issue. But now, admissions are happening from people having pulmonary distress from COVID itself.

Dr. Sifri notes it remains that the majority of people eligible for boosters, even among those with higher risk for hospitalization or death, have not gotten them, yet. He says now’s the time to get that vaccination.