Currently, more than 77% of the ICU beds in the United States are occupied as hospitals tackle a surge of seriously ill COVID patients, almost all unvaccinated.
Since last year’s surge, hospitals are once again overwhelmed with patients, only this time, there is a shortage of workers, and exhaustion only worsens the situation.
Below are the following states whose hospitals are running out of ICU beds:
- Arkansas and Alabama officials said this week their states were completely out of ICU beds.
- In Kentucky, Gov. Andy Beshear said record COVID hospitalizations forced some hospitals to convert space to treat the influx of ICU patients.
- In Florida, 94% of ICU beds are full. Nearly 50 hospitals reported critical staffing shortages, and almost 60 more said they anticipate critical staffing shortages by the end of the week.
- North Texas hospitals may begin to prioritize vaccinated patients over the unvaccinated, Forbes reported last week.
- Idaho, Nevada, and Illinois are also nearing ICU capacity limits.
According to Nick VinZant, a senior research analyst for insurance comparison website QuoteWizard, which released a new report yesterday gauging states’ preparedness, the shortage of ICU beds is a demand problem, not a supply problem.
“It’s specifically because that’s where COVID is really hitting,” VinZant said. “We have a health care system that is being pushed to the limits and staff that are really struggling to keep up.”
