Auburn, Ala. (EETV) - Reported yesterday, August 19, 2021: there are no I.C.U beds available in Alabama.
Intensive Care Units (I.C.U) are reserved for people in critical condition, and with the new Delta variant of the coronavirus on the rise, there is a greater need than ever for I.C.U beds.
The Alabama Hospital Association said on Wednesday night that there were “negative 29” I.C.U. beds available in the state, meaning there were more than two dozen people being forced to wait in emergency rooms for an open I.C.U. bed.
Gov. Kay Ivey said last month that the surge in new cases was attributable to the large number of people who remain unvaccinated. In Alabama, only 46% of inhabitants have received the vaccine, and only 35% have been fully vaccinated, much lower than the national percentage of 60%. On Friday, Gov. Kay Ivey reinstated Alabama’s state of emergency, which had expired in early July, in an effort to expand hospital capacity.
Other places, such as the state of Arkansas and some major cities in Texas, are also having intake issues. In Houston, Texas, at least two hospitals had to have overflow tents set up outside to take care of the mass flow of people trying to get medical attention.
With cases of COVID-19 on the rise, it is more important than ever to wash your hands, wear your mask, get vaccinated if possible, and most importantly: stay safe.
