Alabama hospitals calling off elective procedures as COVID fills beds

Just 6 percent of Alabama’s ICU beds were available on Monday, with COVID-19 hospitalizations increasing 122 percent over the last two weeks.


Alabama hospitals this week have begun postponing some elective procedures as COVID-19 hospitalizations and new cases continue to surge, threatening more surgery cutbacks in a state that has the least number of fully vaccinated residents in the U.S.

Alabama hospitals were caring for 2,134 COVID-19 patients on Monday, a 122 percent increase from two weeks ago. Of those, 628 were in ICU beds, Alabama Hospital Association president Dr. Don Williamson told APR on Monday. That’s an increase of COVID-19 patients in ICUs of 31 percent from six days ago.

The number of COVID-19 patients on ventilators has increased by 42 percent from six days ago, according to the association’s numbers.

The state had just 6 percent of its ICU bed capacity available on Monday, or 87 beds, which Williamson said was the lowest it’s been since Jan. 22. COVID-19 patients made up 42 percent of those ICU beds Monday.

Read more: https://www.alreporter.com/2021/08/09/alabama-hospitals-calling-off-elective-procedures-as-covid-fills-beds/
(Alabama Political Reporter)