Ian Patrick, FISM News
Although 73% of U.S. adults have received at least one jab of a COVID-19 vaccine, it seems that hospitalizations from the disease are once again on the rise. In fact, multiple states are calling for additional assistance to help with overcrowded hospitals.
The Department of Health and Human Services reports that over 100,000 patients in U.S. hospitals have been admitted with confirmed cases of COVID-19. The last time the U.S. crossed this threshold was on December 2 of last year, and the number of hospitalizations didn’t dip below that benchmark until January 29 of 2021.
The states most affected by the increase in hospitalizations are mostly located in the south. Florida and Georgia have at least 25% of their inpatient beds utilized for patients with COVID-19. States with 20 – 25% of beds dedicated to COVID-19 patients include Texas, Mississippi, and Alabama. For clarification’s sake, these percentages only count the number of beds in hospitals that are being used for patients with COVID-19;-it does not necessarily reflect how many people in the state have contracted COVID-19.
Alabama was reported to have run out of ICU beds by August 23, and Arkansas reported that their ICU beds reserved for COVID-19 patients were full. Orlando, Florida residents have been urged to cut down on personal water use because the city is running short on liquid oxygen.
In response to the uptick of hospitalizations, governors in Kentucky, Georgia, Tennessee, and Oregon have deployed their state’s National Guard medical personnel to help in hospitals that need additional support. Other states have sought help from FEMA and volunteers.