As Coronavirus Numbers Rise, Hospitals Run Out Of ICU Beds

ACROSS FLORIDA — More than 50 Florida hospitals are reporting they have no more intensive care beds available for coronavirus patients.

According to data released by the Florida Agency for Health Care Administration, there are no longer any ICU beds available at 54 hospitals in 25 counties. Another 30 hospitals reported their coronavirus ICU units are 90 percent full.

The announcement comes as Florida hit a new high in coronavirus cases Sunday with a one-day increase of 15,300 cases. It was reportedly the largest daily addition of new cases of the virus for a single state nationwide since the beginning of the pandemic.

See related story: Florida Sets Another Staggering One-Day Coronavirus Record

As of Monday, 46,046 of the 59,988 hospital beds in Florida set aside for coronavirus patients were occupied, according to the health care administration.

The counties with the most coronavirus patients were Miami-Dade (6,677 patients), Broward (4,500), Orange (3,298), Hillsborough (3,223), Palm Beach (2,902), Duval (2,783) and Pinellas (2,447)

Of the state's 6,144 intensive care beds available for coronavirus patients, the report says there is currently 19.34 percent capacity available.

Among the hospitals with no ICU beds available are Rockledge Regional Medical Center in Brevard County, Ascension Sacred Heart Hospital in Bay County, University Hospital and Medical Center in Broward County, Memorial of Tampa and South Bay hospitals in Hillsborough County, North Shore Medical Center and Coral Gables Hospital in Miami-Dade County, two AdventHealth hospitals in Pasco County, and Northside and Palms of Pasadena hospitals in Pinellas County.

During his news conference on Friday, Gov. Ron DeSantis said there's no need for alarm.

“We’ve got the census today. I think between 10 and 12 or 13 thousand – somewhere like that – beds are available,” DeSantis said. “There’ll be articles saying, 'Oh my gosh, they’re at 90 percent.’ Well, that’s how hospitals normally run.”

He characterized the rise in cases as a "blip."

“I know we’ve had a lot of different blips,” DeSantis said. “We’re now at a higher blip than where we were in May and the beginning of June.”

In the meantime, after leveling off for several weeks, the Florida Department of Health is reporting a resurgence of coronavirus at nursing homes and other long-term health care facilities.

The department reported 3,072 cases of coronavirus in residents at nursing homes and 5,766 cases among staff since the pandemic began.

Florida Department of Health