Miami Hospital Facing Bed Shortages Amid Covid-19 Surge in Florida
Florida broke its one-day record for coronavirus deaths Tuesday and while there is a possible caveat, the state is experiencing a skyrocketing fatality rate that’s near the highest in the nation and a rapidly growing number of cases.
The 132 deaths reported Tuesday is a 10% jump over the previous record of 120 set just Thursday. However, Tuesday’s total likely includes deaths from three days — Monday plus some from Saturday and Sunday that were not reported by hospitals until Monday.
Still, Florida’s rolling seven-day average is now 81 deaths a day, the second-highest in the country behind Texas. It’s double the 39 Florida averaged two weeks ago and nearly triple the 30 a day averaged a month ago.
Currently, Florida hospitals are treating 8,253 COVID-19 patients, according to the state health department, and that is causing strain at some facilities.
Dr. Nicholas Namias, President of the Medical Staff at Jackson Health System says the issue at his hospital is bed capacity, “It’s the daily strategy meetings to figure out which beds can we turn into covered beds, which beds. Can we create safe isolation for which beds can be turned into rooms that have negative pressure, airflow, which is optimal and short of negative pressure, airflow, which rooms can be isolated from the other rooms and not be a source of contamination?”
Overall, Florida has recorded nearly 292,000 cases since March 1 and 4,513 deaths. Since the outbreak began, an average of 33 Floridians have died per day from COVID-19, which makes it one of the state’s biggest killers.
It has taken a similar toll as strokes, lung disease and accidents, though still ranks well below heart disease and cancer.
Almost all people infected with coronavirus survive, but those who do succumb usually die two or more weeks after they are diagnosed.
The most vulnerable to death and hospitalization are those over 65 or who have health issues such as diabetes, weakened immune systems or obesity.
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