A new report shows that North Carolina hospital could run out of beds for COVID-19 patients in six weeks. Research from UNC and Duke Health depicts dire circumstances if alarming coronavirus trends continue across the state.
As of Tuesday (December 8), 2,373 people are currently hospitalized with COVID-19, a record high for the state, and more than 6,000 new cases were reported on both Saturday and Sunday. The new report shows that if the numbers continue to rapidly increase, hospitals could reach capacity in just four weeks. Even if the growth rate is slow, capacity could still be reached in 12 weeks.
North Carolina had 20,784 hospital beds, with 14,089 occupied by non-COVID patients, according to ABC 11. Of the remaining beds, 2,198 were being utilized by COVID patients, leaving 4,497 beds available.
A growing concern, however, is that hospitals may not have the personnel to staff all of the available beds. As cases increase across the state, health care workers have an increased chance of becoming sick, preventing them from caring for patients.
The report concludes that the best way to ensure hospital capacity is to slow the spread of the virus. To help address these concerns and keep hospitals from becoming overwhelmed, Gov. Roy Cooper announced the state was moving into a modified Stay at Home order beginning Friday, December 11.
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