Wichita COVID-19 hospitalizations reach all-time high as coronavirus surges

Wichita hospitals now have more COVID-19 patients than at any time since the coronavirus pandemic hit Sedgwick County in March 2020.

And the number of COVID-19 patients in intensive care units is at its highest since vaccines became widely available, according to the latest data released by the Sedgwick County Health Department on Monday.

The latest hospital numbers come amid a national surge in COVID-19 cases as the highly contagious omicron variant spreads, shuttering schools and overwhelming the healthcare system. At least six Wichita elementary schools plan to be closed Tuesday as a result of COVID-related staffing shortages.

As of Monday, Wichita hospitals had 277 COVID-19 patients, including 80 in the ICU. The previous record for COVID patients was 273 on Nov. 30, 2020.

More than 95% of COVID-19 ICU patients are unvaccinated. Those that are vaccinated are generally older and have compromised immune systems because of a condition such as cancer or more than four comorbidities, Sedgwick County Commissioner Sarah Lopez said last week after a COVID-19 briefing from hospitals.

County and city leaders have not issued mask mandates or other COVID restrictions. Instead, they continue to urge people to get vaccinated.

COVID-19 vaccines have proven to be highly effective at preventing serious illness and death, health officials say. But Sedgwick County’s vaccination rate has plateaued around 50%, which is lower than the state and national average.

Less than half of Sedgwick County residents are fully vaccinated against COVID-19, according to vaccine data provided by the Kansas Department of Health and Environment. Of those who are eligible for the vaccine, just 54% are fully vaccinated and less than 59% of the eligible county population has received at least a single dose.

This story was originally published January 17, 2022 at 5:53 PM.