The more contagious omicron variant of the coronavirus appeared weeks ago and has quickly become the dominant strain in the Midwest.
The CDC, on Monday, reported 92.3 percent of all new infections are due to omicron.
The variant’s mutations make it more likely to attach itself to cells and evade vaccine protection—especially in those who have not received a booster shot.
However, Indiana is still reeling from an outbreak of hospitalizations fueled by the virus’s delta variant.
READ MORE: 'We need help' IU Health pushed to the brink with record number of COVID-19 patients
Indiana University Health—the state’s largest health system—registered its highest in-patient COVID census last week.
More than two-thirds of patients systemwide requiring intensive care are due to complications from COVID-19.
The health system echoed the pleas from other health officials encouraging anyone eligible to receive the vaccine.
Brian Tabor is President of Indiana’s Hospital Association. He says the system is having a hard time keeping up with the number of unvaccinated covid patients.
"We can't serve Hoosiers in the same way that we want to right now," he said.
Tabor asserts that will affect anyone seeking medical care.
"That means longer waits for surgery. They need longer waits at the emergency room," he said. "There's just no question. There's not enough staff right now there's not enough slack in the system to deal with the number of patients that need care."
Across the state, hospitalizations continue and resources dwindle. Fewer than 20 percent of the state’s ICU beds are available.
The National Guard has been deployed to more than 20 Indiana hospitals.
