Tracking COVID-19: These states still have limited ICU capacity even as hospitalizations decline

Iowa reports 91 additional COVID-19 deaths  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  TRACKING THE COVID-19 VACCINE Oct 06, 2021 While much of the U.S. is seeing a decline in hospitalizations for COVID-19, it’s also evident the fight against the pandemic is far from over as eight states are reporting limited numbers of available ICU beds. Texas, Idaho, Alabama, Georgia, Oklahoma, Kentucky, Arkansas and North Carolina have 15% or less of their ICU capacity available to patients, according to data from the Department of Health and Human Services. Dwindling capacity from COVID-19 has led to many hospitals strained for resources and staffing, often leaving them unable to provide the standard of care they would like, according to health care professionals. On average over the last week, COVID-19 hospitalizations have declined by more than 1,400 a day, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Whether the change is temporary or the beginning of the end is still not clear, health experts say, and now is not the time to get complacent. Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, has said the vast majority of the U.S. will need to be vaccinated to control the spread, but according to data from the CDC, only 56% of the population is fully vaccinated. “I am worried that we still have some tough days ahead,” said Dr. Ashish Jha, the Dean at Brown University School of Public Health. “Even though we’re doing reasonably well on vaccines, we’ve got to do much better because the delta variant is very good at finding people who are unvaccinated and infecting them.” Read more about this story. TOP STORIES Iowa reports 91 additional COVID-19 deaths » $1M in CARES Act funding targets Iowa's hard-hit arts and culture » Everything to know about COVID-19 vaccines in Iowa » Iowa reports increase in positive COVID-19 tests, drop in hospitalizations » MORE STORIES Los Angeles OKs one of strictest vaccination mandates in the nation » Man jailed over false claim that he paid person with COVID-19 to 'lick items at grocery stores' » Hospitalization rates are declining, but 8 states still have fewer than 15% of ICU beds available » 'I'm 30 years old and I'm a widow': Mom of four shares grim warning after husband's COVID-19 death » MANAGE YOUR ACCOUNT If you'd like to receive some of our other email newsletters, you can tap or click the links below: Be among the first to receive National Breaking News or Local Breaking News as stories break. Catch up on the day's big stories with our Morning Headlines and Afternoon Digest newsletters. Receive our Daily Forecasts or get Severe Weather Alerts sent straight to your email inbox. Manage your email newsletter subscriptions » For the very latest information, download our free apps To ensure email delivery, add newsletters@e.kcci.com to your address book or safe senders list © 2021 Hearst Television Inc. 300 W 57th Street, New York NY 10019 Privacy Notice | Terms of Use | Unsubscribe