NICK GILPIN

Visitor restrictions have been lifted at all eight Corewell Health East hospitals, formerly known as Beaumont Health, in Metro Detroit due to a drop in respiratory illness spread.

Beaumont Health is sounding the alarm as the omicron variant is running rampant on its doctors, nurses, and other employees, who have reached their breaking point.

Beaumont Health is reporting that health care is at a “breaking point,” with more than 750 COVID patients currently in its hospitals and more than 430 employees out with symptoms.

Beaumont said Gilpin also will share guidance regarding gathering with friends and family during holidays.

A Beaumont Health expert provided a concerning update about COVID and hospital trends in Metro Detroit, calling this the “fourth surge” and sharing three reasons why he believes numbers are once again on the rise.

Michigan’s largest hospital system has issued a warning: The battle against COVID in Metro Detroit isn’t even close to over.

Here's what's coming up on Local 4 News at 5.

A Beaumont Health expert provided a concerning update about COVID and hospital trends in Metro Detroit, calling this the “fourth surge” and sharing three reasons why he believes numbers are once again on the rise.

Beaumont doctor Nick Gilpin was one of the first healthcare workers in the state to get his first dose of the COVID vaccine and among the first wave of Beaumont employees to get his third dose.

Here are this morning's top stories.

Beaumont Health officials are very worried about their staff members leaving or becoming exhausted as Michigan hospitals fill up with COVID-19 patients.

Add the medical director of infection prevention at Beaumont Health to the list of experts who believe Michigan needs to mandate more COVID-19 restrictions to slow the spread of the virus.

It’s been an extremely busy week for COVID-related topics in Michigan, from debates about another shutdown to quickly filling hospitals to six more months of workplace restrictions.

Michigan’s hospitals are overwhelmed, leaving health officials concerned about what could still be coming. Despite that, the state has refused to issue any new restrictions.

Officials from Beaumont Health talked about whether Michigan needs another COVID shutdown and many other topics while painting a dire picture of hospitals filling up with COVID-19 patients.

Beaumont hospitals have hit critical capacity levels as COVID-19 infections continue to soar throughout Michigan, officials said Thursday.

DETROIT – On Tuesday, some of the first Metro Detroit frontline workers who got Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine were able to receive their second dose. Three weeks ago Dr. Nick Gilpin, Beaumont Health Director of Epidemiology, was the first at Beaumont to get the COVID-19 vaccine. “We want to get all of our healthcare workers and employees vaccinated as quickly as possible. Half of those are the second doses for frontline workers who already received the first dose. READ: Tracking Michigan COVID-19 vaccine dataRead More:Questions about coronavirus?

ROYAL OAK, Mich. – A group of Beaumont Health Care Heroes received the first doses of the COVID-19 vaccine Tuesday afternoon. This virus has claimed too many lives and put incredible strains on health care workers and our health care systems around the world. Beaumont Health Director of Epidemiology and Infection Prevention Dr. Nick Gilpin was the first person to receive the vaccine at Beaumont Health. Beaumont Health leaders recommended Dr. Gilpin and approximately 15 other health care workers in the 1A high priority group to receive the vaccine first. All other Beaumont health care workers who met the 1A high priority criteria were randomly selected to receive an invitation to get the vaccine.

WAYNE, Mich. – The Beaumont Hospital in Wayne is restricting patient visitation to help prevent the spread of coronavirus as cases and hospitalizations continue to rise throughout Michigan. COVID patients will be allowed visitors if they are nearing the end of life. The Beaumont Hospital in Wayne is the latest of the Beaumont hospitals to issue visitation restrictions as coronavirus spread increases across Michigan. A number of other medical centers have also recently ramped up visitation restrictions as COVID-19 cases climb throughout Michigan. On Wednesday, the state reported 4,273 new COVID-19 cases and 73 new deaths in Michigan since Tuesday.

Beaumont Hospitals in Dearborn and Farmington Hills are limiting the visitation of family and friends effective Wednesday, Nov. 18 at 8 a.m. to protect patients, staff and community as COVID-19 cases in the region and state continue to rise. “We’ve had a notable rise in COVID-19 cases in Metro Detroit,” said Dr. Nick Gilpin, medical director of Infection Prevention and Epidemiology for Beaumont Health. Please note that while every site allows a support person to escort a patient into the Emergency Center, there is site-to-site variation regarding whether the support person may stay after the patient is registered. Our COVID-19 Data section tracks many of the key data points health officials are watching closely every single day. Track key COVID-19 data points in Michigan:

Beaumont, Grosse Pointe, Royal Oak and Troy already reinstated visitor restrictions on Tuesday, Nov. 10. “We’ve had a notable rise in COVID-19 cases in Metro Detroit,” said Dr. Nick Gilpin, medical director of Infection Prevention and Epidemiology for Beaumont Health. Visitors with a person receiving care at Beaumont, Grosse Pointe, Taylor and Troy must leave after bringing that person into the Emergency Center. Our COVID-19 Data section tracks many of the key data points health officials are watching closely every single day. Track key COVID-19 data points in Michigan:

DETROIT – Beaumont hospitals in Royal Oak, Troy and Grosse Pointe are limiting the visitation of family and friends beginning Tuesday, Nov. 10 at 8 a.m. to protect patients, staff and community as COVID-19 cases in the region and state continue to rise. Related: Beaumont Hospital-Taylor reinstates visitor safety restrictions as COVID cases rise“We’ve had a notable rise in COVID-19 cases in metro Detroit,” said Dr. Nick Gilpin, medical director of Infection Prevention and Epidemiology for Beaumont Health. Patients should continue to go to any Beaumont Emergency Department for medical issues that need urgent attention. The local medical leadership at each Beaumont hospital makes the determination about when to implement visitor restrictions. According to Johns Hopkins University, more than 3.8 million have recovered in the U.S., with more than 9.9 million cases reported across the country.

The advertiser paid a fee to promote this sponsored article and may have influenced or authored the content. This article is sponsored by Beaumont HealthMany patients have not been seeking medical care as they normally would because of the pandemic. Host Tati Amare spoke with Dr. Nick Gilpin the Beaumont Health Director of Infection Prevention about the safety measures that Beaumont Heath has in place for those seeking medical attention. Beaumont Health has implemented numerous safeguards such as screenings of symptoms, giving out free masks and removing chairs in waiting rooms for social distancing purposes. Watch the video to learn about the safety procedures in place at Beaumont Health for your next doctor’s visit.