As the total number of confirmed coronavirus cases in the U.S. approaches 8.7 million, COVID 19 hospital admissions are also increasing.
Here we take a closer look at some of the states where COVID-19 hospitalizations are reported.
Texas
According to the Texas Department of Health and Human Services, the number of COVID-19 hospitalizations in Texas has risen sharply since early October, after declining since the end of July and flattening out since early September.
According to the Texas Department of Health, there are currently 5,206 COVID-19 patients in state hospitals with 1,118 available ICU beds and 7,614 available ventilators (as of Sunday).
Some intensive care patients in El Paso hospitals are being transferred by air to other medical facilities to cope with the recent increase in hospitalization, according to a statement from El Paso’s University Medical Center.
On Sunday, Greg Abbott of the Texas government announced that an alternative care site and medical support unit will be provided in the El Paso area to help hospitals cope with the increase, the governor’s office said in a statement on Sunday.
The average daily number of new cases in Texas has risen since early October, according to the JHU, after peaking at 10,572 on July 17 and declining thereafter.
Wisconsin
The total number of COVID-19 hospitalizations across the state has increased since mid-September, with a sharp rise in the Southeast region, according to the Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS).
Hospital beds in Wisconsin were reportedly 82 percent full, with a quarter of the total of 1,293 COVID-19 patients in intensive care, according to the department’s latest report from Sunday.
“Wisconsin continues to record a high number of COVID-19 hospitalizations, with some regions reporting over 90 percent utilization of ICU beds. The seven-day average of new cases reached nearly 3,500 cases for the first time since the pandemic began,” said Wisconsin government office Tony Evers in a statement on October 21.
Almost all 72 counties in the state had “very high” levels of the virus, according to health officials.
Andrea Palm, the designated secretary of the Wisconsin Department of Health, said in the statement: “With a record number of positive cases, hospital admissions and staff shortages, there has never been a more critical time for the Wisconsinites to act and stop the spread of the virus.
According to Johns Hopkins University (JHU), the average daily incidence of new cases in the state has risen sharply since early September, after flattening out since March.
Utah
Last Wednesday, the state reported a record number of patients in intensive care units. 111 of 314 COVID-19 patients were in intensive care at that time.
On the same day, for the first time since the outbreak began, the total number of current hospitalizations in the state exceeded 300, the Utah Department of Health reported.
The seven-day average “nationwide ICU utilization” was reported to be 72 percent or more in most (at least 21 counties) of Utah, while the average COVID 19 ICU hospitalization in the same counties was 15 percent or more, according to the Department of Health.
These 21 counties report “high levels of transmission,” with each county reporting a 14-day case rate of 325 or more infections per 100,000 people.
Last Friday it was reported that the University of Utah Hospital has more active COVID-19 patients in the intensive care unit than ever before, while intensive care unit capacity reportedly reached 99 percent on Saturday.
“This is a big deal,” said Dr. Kencee Graves, the hospital’s deputy chief of inpatient care. “We currently have several patients under 30 years of age in our intensive care unit.
Gary Herbert of the Government of Utah said in a statement on Friday, “So far our hospitals have been able to provide good care to all COVID and non-COVID patients who need it. But today we are at the precipice. Unless the Utahns take serious steps to restrict group gatherings and wear masks, our health care providers will not be able to provide quality care to all who need it.
