Arkansas Democrat-Gazette – Only eight intensive care unit beds were available in the state Monday when the state’s hospitalizations increased by 103 to 1,376, the largest daily increase since the pandemic began.
The number of covid-19 patients in ICU rose by 26 to 509.
Gov. Asa Hutchinson said on Twitter Monday:
“Today’s report shows some very startling numbers.
“We saw the largest single-day increase in hospitalizations and have eclipsed our previous high of COVID hospitalizations. There are currently only eight ICU beds available in the state. Vaccinations reduce hospitalizations.”
Those eight intensive care unit beds are all that is available for any patient, not just those suffering with covid-19.
The number of ICU beds available fell by nine beds from Sunday when there were 17 ICU beds available … READ MORE.
Mississippi’s Largest Hospital Converting Garage to COVID Ward as State Short on ICU Beds
BY ZOE KALEN HILL ON 8/11/21
The University of Mississippi Medical Center (UMMC), the state’s largest hospital, is clearing out the bottom floor of its parking garage to build a COVID-19 ward.
The hospital is asking the federal government to provide additional medical professionals to work in the garage’s field hospital, according to the hospital.
UMMC does not have enough staff for the growing number of COVID-19 patients, and the current staff is pushed to its limits, the hospital said.
Mississippi is one of the worst-hit states in the nation in the current wave of cases, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Mississippi State Department of Health (MSDH).
The state reported over 3,000 new cases and 25 deaths on Tuesday. Nearly 1,400 people are currently hospitalized for a confirmed COVID-19 case in the state, 388 of whom are in the ICU and 249 are on ventilators, according to MSDH.
UMMC Vice Chancellor Dr. LouAnne Woodward said Mississippi is in “distress” over the latest wave of coronavirus cases. She also encouraged people to get the vaccine to prevent more hospitalizations in the state. The influx of new patients is overwhelming the entire hospital, not just the COVID-19 ward … READ MORE.
