TALLAHASSEE – The COVID-19 pandemic continues to stress Florida hospitals, according to the Florida Hospital Association.

“There can be no question that many Florida hospitals are stretched to their absolute limits,” said Mary C. Mayhew, President and CEO, Florida Hospital Association. “While hospitalizations continue to increase, three out of four Florida hospitals expect to face critical staff shortages in the next seven days, an increase of nearly 10% since last week, and half of our hospitals will no longer accept transfer patients from other facilities.”

The Florida Hospital Association, the state’s leading voice for hospitals and health systems, provided the following update Aug. 17, 2021 on COVID-19 in the state. Statewide data is derived from the federal Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).

HHS Statewide COVID-19 Update:

• Current Confirmed COVID-19 Hospitalizations: 16,521

• Percent of Previous Peak (7/23/20): 162%

• Total New COVID-19 Cases: 21,669

• Inpatient Bed Availability (all patients): 14.2%

• Inpatient ICU Bed Availability (adults): 8.2%

• Percent of Inpatients with Confirmed COVID-19 (all patients): 36.1%

The following information was released by the Florida Hospital Association from a survey of hospitals completed Monday, Aug, 16, 2021. This survey reflects responses from hospitals representing 83% of Florida’s acute care hospital beds.

• COVID-19 patients in ICU: 22.5%,
• COVID-19 patients on ventilators: 15.1%,
• COVID-19 patients transferred from nursing homes/long-term care: 2.5%,
• Hospitals expecting critical staffing shortage in next 7 days: 75.6% ,
• Hospitals expanding into non-care areas in next 7 days: 29.2%.