While the drop in COVID-19 patients in the spring was encouraging, it's back to all hands on deck at Butler Memorial Hospital.

“We are continuing to provide every aspect of care that we have always provided to the community, but our resources are very heavily strained,” said Dr. David Rottinghaus, chief medical officer at the Butler Health System.

He said the nationwide spike in COVID-19 hospitalizations is straining health care systems due to a shortage of workers.

Health care workers have been leaving the field over the past 18 months, Rottinghaus said, and it's largely due to COVID-19 fatigue.

Nurses are leaving their hospital jobs during the pandemic to accept traveling positions where they can make two or even three times as much money, he said.

Other hospital caregivers are out because they have contracted the virus or are in quarantine due to exposure, Rottinghaus said.

On Aug. 3, Butler Memorial cared for 34 COVID-19 patients. Of those, 15% are vaccinated, Rottinghaus said.

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