ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — The 7-day average of new daily COVID-19 cases in Florida is up more than 350% from two weeks ago.

That was summarized in a recent tweet by University of South Florida Professor of Epidemiology, Dr. Jason Salemi.

While infections are one important metric, hospitalizations usually lag behind, officials say.

That then raises the question: What is the impact of omicron inside hospitals?

Ahead of the delta surge back in June, Tampa General Hospital spoke to Spectrum Bay News 9 and said the state should get ready for the variant’s eventual dominance.    

The advice proved to be correct.

Executive Vice President and TGH Chief Medical Officer Dr. Peggy Duggan gave Spectrum News an update on Wednesday on how hospitalizations look right now because of the new omicron variant.

“So, we do have hospitalizations currently and we have not seen a significant increase," she said. "We've seen a little bit of an increase in in-patients — we just have to wait and see how things are for the unvaccinated.

"That was the big issue for us during the delta surge and could be again. The state is that most of the patients are unvaccinated and it's something we have to keep an eye on."

WEB EXTRA INTERVIEW: TGH Chief Medical Officer Dr. Peggy Duggan

Florida went through the delta surge ahead of many states. Omicron has now replaced that variant nationwide.

A big concern is hospital availability and staffing.

President Joe Biden rolled out new measures to help with FEMA teams and additional medical personnel.

Duggan said the main concern with omicron after having been through the delta wave has to do with staffing.

"For us this time, because it's so contagious, I think you're spot on that staffing is the biggest worry,” she said.  “We could have staff who are infected with COVID and cannot come to work even if they're feeling well, and that's going to be the struggle this time."

It's a challenge many employers should be thinking about as well.

If you're vaccinated and boosted but COVID positive, when should infected you return to work?

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention currently advises 10 days of isolation.

But, agency officials are also looking at possibly shortening this period.

Tampa General Hospital staff members are looking at evidence to consider this as well.

Duggan said they’re looking at evidence to see if boosted individuals who show no symptoms but have tested positive can shorten their isolation period in a safe way.

“It may be that it’s just as safe to bring them back in seven days as it is in 10 days,” she said.

"In the pandemic, and everyone remembers this from the beginning, information changes, we're learning as we go,” she added. “So it's hard for people to have a set of rules today and another set tomorrow and have confidence.

"And that's why we really try to find the science to support us and communicate that super transparently with our team members. It's very paramount that safety comes first."

Duggan again stressed the importance of vaccines, boosters and staying masked up in crowded areas.

The United Kingdom on Wednesday announced it is moving from 10 days to seven days of isolation for infected individuals.

It applies to someone infected who has had two negative test results 24 hours apart before the sixth day of isolation.