TALLAHASSEE – While hospital admissions for COVID-19 patients has fallen 10% in the past week, Florida hospitals are still overwhelmed, according to the Florida Hospital Association COVID-19 update released Aug. 31, 2021. Hospital officials continue to encourage the public to be vaccinated against the virus, as this is the most effective way to avoid serious complications from covid.

According to the update, 33.7% of hospital inpatients are confirmed as COVID-19 positive.

“In the past week our hospitals have seen roughly a 10% decrease in patients hospitalized with COVID-19 and a dramatic reduction in daily new COVID-19 admissions,” said Mary C. Mayhew, President and CEO, Florida Hospital Association. “The downward curve is significant, but we still have 50% more patients hospitalized now with COVID-19 than at the worst of the peak last year.

“We must keep up the battle against the virus and focus on vaccinations,” she explained.

According to the Aug. 31 report, 22.7% of COVID-19 patients are in ICU and 18.2% of COVID-19 patients are on ventilators. More than three-quarters of Florida hospitals are experiencing staffing shortages. About 27.8% of hospitals have expanded into non-care areas, housing patients in areas of the hospital that were not designed for patients.