A UPMC official said hospitalizations for COVID-19 in the health care system are at the highest level since last winter.

Dr. Erin McCreary, director of antimicrobial stewardship innovation and infectious diseases pharmacist at UPMC, said COVID-19 cases are climbing across all the communities that UPMC serves.

“The more cases we have in the community, the more severe cases we are going to see,” she said during a news conference Thursday morning.

McCreary said the health care system is much better prepared to help patients avoid hospitalization now, and encouraged everyone to complete a COVID-19 vaccination series as soon as possible.

“There is no time to wait as we head into what we anticipate will be a difficult winter,” she said. “Vaccination continues to be the safest and most effective way to protect yourself and your loved ones from COVID-19.”

A portion of this story is shared with you as a digital media exclusive. The full story will be available tomorrow for subscribers. Please consider supporting our local, independent newsroom by subscribing at butlereagle.com.