7,000 more hospital beds needed for COVID-19 surge, state predicts
Expecting COVID-19 cases to peak in two to four weeks, the state is predicting it will need 7,000 more hospital beds to handle the worst scenario of patient influx, Gov. Bill Lee said Wednesday, April 1.
Still in the early stages of coping with the coronavirus, the state has only 3,414 in-patient beds available, only 32% of its capacity, 534 intensive care unit beds and 838 ventilators, it was revealed during the governor’s daily press conference done remotely from the State Capitol. More licensed, unstaffed beds are available.
The peak could hit April 19 or 20, the governor said, noting the state is not prepared for the number of hospitalizations that could occur but is planning to “close the gap” on that shortage.
Two weeks ago, the state estimated it had 15,000 licensed, unused beds and an additional 12,000 hospitalized people.
Read more: https://dailymemphian.com/section/coronavirus/article/12506/state-projecting-7000-more-hospital-beds-needed