| As COVID-19 cases surge across the U.S., particularly among unvaccinated Americans, hospitals have been pushed to their limits treating the influx of patients — and five states are nearly out of intensive care unit beds.
Alabama, Georgia, Texas, Florida and Arkansas have less than 10% left of their ICU bed capacity, according to data from the Department of Health and Human Services.
In Georgia, the CEO of Northeast Georgia Health Systems said it had 287 COVID-19 patients Monday morning, which is more than the hospital has had since January.
“So, in essence, our hospitals are full,” Carol Burrell said. “We’re looking to add space in hallways and conference rooms in waiting areas. Our emergency rooms and our urgent care centers are seeing higher volume than they’ve seen throughout this pandemic."
Hospitals around the country have been stretched as cases have picked back up. But the South, where vaccinations have been lagging, has been particularly hit. Many hospitals have been reporting oxygen shortages.
On Monday, data presented by a vaccine adviser from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention showed a hospitalization rate 16 times greater in the unvaccinated population than in those vaccinated.
“This to me seems to be a strong indication that the current epidemiologic curve that we’re seeing is really a reflection of failure to vaccinate, not vaccine failure,” Dr. Matthew Daley said at the CDC Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices meeting.
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