Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine to address hospital staffing shortages as COVID-19 cases rise

As COVID-19 cases continue to climb across Ohio, Gov. Mike DeWine announced plans to discuss what can be done to help hospitals address their staffing challenges. 

The Cleveland Clinic in northeast Ohio, which has been particularly hard hit by rising cases, announced Friday morning that it would be extending its postponement of non-urgent surgeries through the end of 2021.

"It is important to understand that our hospitals and emergency departments remain open to care for our community," according to its statement. "Essential and urgent surgeries, as well as heart, cancer, pediatric and transplantation surgeries, and outpatient surgeries not requiring a hospital bed will continue to be scheduled during this time period."

The clinic had hoped to begin resuming surgeries on Monday

In the Cincinnati region, hospitals are full and are facing a "dire situation" ahead of what could be the highest surge in demand of the 21-month pandemic, a leader of the region's health care industry conference board said Thursday.

The governor's briefing, scheduled for 11 a.m. Friday, comes a day after the governor and his wife, Fran, reported being exposed to someone who tested positive for the novel coronavirus. 

The Ohio Department of Health also reported an increase of more than 11,000 new COVID-19 cases Thursday. Though the number included a backlog of positive test results. 

This story will be updated. 

Anna Staver is a reporter with the USA TODAY Network Ohio Bureau. It serves the Columbus Dispatch, Cincinnati Enquirer, Akron Beacon Journal and 18 other affiliated news organizations across Ohio.