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The United States exceeded 100,000 on Wednesday coronavirus hospitalizations – a record since the start of the pandemic, according to the COVID Tracking Project. Hospitalizations have more than tripled across the country since October 1, leaving health systems exhausted as facilities begin to run out of room for new patients.
South Dakota, Nevada and Indiana lead the country in per capita hospitalizations, while California has the highest number with 9,365 hospitalizations, according to the COVID Tracking Project. Governor Gavin Newsom said the California hospital system cannot support patients at its current rate of 75% of critical care capacity. If current rates remain stable or increase, California will run out of intensive care beds by December 25, a fear that hospitals in South Dakota, Indiana and Nevada are already facing.
In Reno, the Renown Regional Medical Center is currently caring for 30 patients at the hospital’s alternative care site, a parking garage. Since the start of the pandemic, Renown staff have treated more than 219 patients at the alternative care site.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, “the overall weekly hospitalization rate is at its highest point in the pandemic, with further sharp increases among people aged 65 and over.” With the current number of patients hospitalized for COVID-19, there are 66% more people currently hospitalized than during the first peak in April, when major cities across the country started to run out of hospital beds.
Some states are also wondering how to staff hospitals. More than 1,000 hospitals across the country are experiencing a severe staff shortage, according to the Department of Health and Human Services.
“The reality is that December, January and February are going to be tough times, I actually believe they’re going to be the toughest time in the history of public health in this country – in large part because of the stress that is going to put our health care system, ”said director Dr. Robert Redfield on Wednesday at a US Chamber of Commerce event.
“I think unfortunately by February we could be close to 450,000 Americans [dead] of this virus, “Redfield said while urging Americans to continue with mitigation efforts such as social distancing, wearing masks, limiting crowds and not letting their guards down at family gatherings.
Britain on Wednesday became the first country to approve Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine. The United States is expected to follow suit in the coming weeks. If vaccines from Pfizer and Moderna Inc. are urgently approved by the Food and Drug Safety Administration, federal distribution officials have said the first vaccine could be available in the United States as early as the 15th. December.
Max Bayer contributed reporting.
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