ICU Bed Update: Here's How Fast They Are Filling Up In CT

CONNECTICUT — Gov. Ned Lamont has frequently referenced the number of hospitalizations as his bellwether to determining if any new coronavirus restrictions would be necessary. The state Department of Public Health publishes that updated number Monday through Friday.

Here's the most recent data:

Undeniably more crucial than the number of new admissions, however, is the number of beds available in the state's intensive care units, as these are a much scarcer and precious resource. In California, additional coronavirus restrictions were triggered when a region's intensive care capacity hit 85 percent. During a news conference Monday, Lamont indicated Connecticut might look to similar cues.

That ICU bed number has not been readily available, however. In fact, this week marks the first time the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services has published it.

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Here's a snapshot of the most recent data for Connecticut hospital towns:

The numbers reporting is still spotty for some facilities, but the takeaway is that Connecticut's hospital resources are holding up better than most areas around the country.

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The HHS data revealed that more than a third of Americans live in areas where hospitals are running critically short of intensive care beds. Hospitals serving more than 100 million Americans reported having fewer than 15 percent of intensive care beds still available as of last week, according to a NY Times analysis. One in 10 Americans lives in an area where intensive care beds are either completely full, or fewer than 5 percent of beds are available.

None of which is to say the Nutmeg State is out of the coronavirus woods, or even trending in the right direction. Data released Tuesday by the Center for Public Integrity show that Connecticut has dropped to the middle of the pack for states in virus metrics. It has the 31st-highest rate of new coronavirus cases in the country and the 32nd-highest positive test rate.