Alabama Coronavirus: How Full Are Jefferson County Hospitals?

BIRMINGHAM, AL — Alabama's hospitals are filling up with COVID-19 patients, as more than 2,100 patients in the state are currently hospitalized with the virus. In Jefferson County, where some of the country's best hospitals are located, this is an alarming problem, according to health officials.

State health officials warn that once all hospital beds are occupied, patients may be turned away, as many facilities have already started canceling elective surgeries.

A new tool has been created to check the availability of hospital beds by county throughout the country. National Public Radio created a "look-up" tool, where people can see how full their local hospitals are.

In Jefferson County, according to the tool, the average hospital is at 78 percent capacity.

Here is the breakdown by reporting hospitals in the county:

• Brookwood Baptist Medical Center: 79 percent capacity, 11 percent by COVID-19 patients
• Grandview Medical Center: 73 percent capacity, 10 percent by COVID-19 patients
• UAB Medical West: 69 percent capacity, 15 percent by COVID-19 patients
• Princeton Baptist Medical Center: 73 percent capacity, 17 percent by COVID-19 patients
• St Vincent's Birmingham: 74 percent capacity, 12 percent by COVID-19 patients
• St Vincent's East: 86 percent capacity, 16 percent COVID-19 patients
• UAB Hospital: 86 percent capacity, 12 percent COVID-19 patients

Look up more information on the NPR website.