Minnesota Lacks Hospital Beds To Fight Coronavirus: Study

MINNESOTA — Less than two weeks since Minnesota's first case of the new coronavirus was confirmed, the number of COVID-19 illnesses have climbed to 77 in Minnesota as of Wednesday afternoon. That number is up from 60 Tuesday, an increase of 17 in one day. A total of 2,762 patients have been tested so far.

The state is restricting its testing criteria to focus on situations of the "highest priority," including hospitalized patients and health care workers.

Minnesota Department of Health officials said Tuesday they made the adjustment because of the national shortage of COVID-19 laboratory testing materials.

Testing isn't the most important tool to combating the spread of COVID-19, however, says Minnesota Department of Health infectious disease director Kris Ehresman. She said employers and businesses should not require workers to get confirmation that they have coronavirus when granting them sick leave.

"Employers should not be requiring confirmation of COVID-19 for their employees to have sick leave," Ehresman told reporters on a conference call Wednesday. "We need people to stay home when they're sick regardless of whether or not they're able to have a test result."

People who have severe underlying health conditions or are older adults are being told to contact their health care provider to see if they have additional recommendations for them.

If someone develops severe symptoms, they should call ahead to their health care provider if possible prior to seeking care.

New hospital restrictions

Hospital systems in Minnesota are restricting visitors and postponing some surgeries in order to prepare for an influx of patients during the COVID-19 outbreak.

Bloomington-based HealthPartners Wednesday announced that it is suspending all elective surgeries, procedures, and "non-essential" radiology.

Rochester-based Mayo Clinic says it's temporarily limiting outpatient appointments, procedures and surgeries. It's also limiting the number of visitors on Mayo campuses.

M Health Fairview says no visitors are allowed on its hospital and clinic campuses, with some limited exceptions.

COVID-19 could overwhelm Minnesota's hospital systems

Despite increased restrictions and suspension of some surgeries, hospitals across Minnesota would be overwhelmed with coronavirus patients in most scenarios for infection rates, according to a ProPublica study released Tuesday.

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From ProPublica:

Minneapolis

As of 2018, Minneapolis, MN had 6,950 total hospital beds, of which about 65% were occupied, potentially leaving only 2,460 beds open for additional patients. The bed count includes 610 beds in intensive care units, according to data from the American Hospital Association and the American Hospital Directory. Intensive care units are best equipped to handle the most acute coronavirus cases.

The Minneapolis, MN region has a population of about 3.4 million residents; 14% are over the age of 65. The experience in other countries has shown that elderly patients have significantly higher hospitalization and fatality rates from the coronavirus.

In the moderate scenario, in which 40% of the adult population contracts the disease over 12 months, Minneapolis, MN would be among the regions that would need to expand capacity.

It is estimated that about 8% of the adult population would require hospital care. In a moderate scenario where 40% of the population is infected over a 12-month period, hospitals in Minneapolis, MN would receive an estimated 214,000 coronavirus patients. The influx of patients would require 7,120 beds over 12 months, which is 2.9 available beds in that time period. The Harvard researchers' scenarios assume that each coronavirus patient will require 12 days of hospital care on average, based on data from China.

In the Minneapolis, MN region, intensive care units would be especially overwhelmed and require additional capacity. Without coronavirus patients, there are only 240 available beds on average in intensive care units, which is 6.4 times less than what is needed to care for all severe cases.

St. Paul

As of 2018, St. Paul, MN had 1,600 total hospital beds, of which about 64% were occupied, potentially leaving only 580 beds open for additional patients. The bed count includes 180 beds in intensive care units, according to data from the American Hospital Association and the American Hospital Directory. Intensive care units are best equipped to handle the most acute coronavirus cases.

The St. Paul, MN region has a population of about 1.1 million residents; 13% are over the age of 65. The experience in other countries has shown that elderly patients have significantly higher hospitalization and fatality rates from the coronavirus.

In the moderate scenario, in which 40% of the adult population contracts the disease over 12 months, St. Paul, MN would be among the regions that would need to expand capacity.

It is estimated that about 8% of the adult population would require hospital care. In a moderate scenario where 40% of the population is infected over a 12-month period, hospitals in St. Paul, MN would receive an estimated 70,700 coronavirus patients. The influx of patients would require 2,360 beds over 12 months, which is 4.1 available beds in that time period. The Harvard researchers' scenarios assume that each coronavirus patient will require 12 days of hospital care on average, based on data from China.

In the St. Paul, MN region, intensive care units would be especially overwhelmed and require additional capacity. Without coronavirus patients, there are only 48 available beds on average in intensive care units, which is 10 times less than what is needed to care for all severe cases.

St. Cloud

As of 2018, St. Cloud, MN had 900 total hospital beds, of which about 75% were occupied, potentially leaving only 230 beds open for additional patients. The bed count includes 45 beds in intensive care units, according to data from the American Hospital Association and the American Hospital Directory. Intensive care units are best equipped to handle the most acute coronavirus cases.

The St. Cloud, MN region has a population of about 265,000 residents; 15% are over the age of 65. The experience in other countries has shown that elderly patients have significantly higher hospitalization and fatality rates from the coronavirus.

In the moderate scenario, in which 40% of the adult population contracts the disease over 12 months, St. Cloud, MN would be among the regions that would need to expand capacity.

It is estimated that about 8% of the adult population would require hospital care. In a moderate scenario where 40% of the population is infected over a 12-month period, hospitals in St. Cloud, MN would receive an estimated 16,900 coronavirus patients. The influx of patients would require 560 beds over 12 months, which is 2.5 available beds in that time period. The Harvard researchers' scenarios assume that each coronavirus patient will require 12 days of hospital care on average, based on data from China.

In the St. Cloud, MN region, intensive care units would be especially overwhelmed and require additional capacity. Without coronavirus patients, there are only 16 available beds on average in intensive care units, which is 7.6 times less than what is needed to care for all severe cases.

Rochester

As of 2018, Rochester, MN had 1,840 total hospital beds, of which about 68% were occupied, potentially leaving only 590 beds open for additional patients. The bed count includes 240 beds in intensive care units, according to data from the American Hospital Association and the American Hospital Directory. Intensive care units are best equipped to handle the most acute coronavirus cases.

The Rochester, MN region has a population of about 422,000 residents; 17% are over the age of 65. The experience in other countries has shown that elderly patients have significantly higher hospitalization and fatality rates from the coronavirus.

In the moderate scenario, in which 40% of the adult population contracts the disease over 12 months, Rochester, MN would be among the regions that would need to expand capacity.

It is estimated that about 8% of the adult population would require hospital care. In a moderate scenario where 40% of the population is infected over a 12-month period, hospitals in Rochester, MN would receive an estimated 27,100 coronavirus patients. The influx of patients would require 900 beds over 12 months, which is 152 percent of available beds in that time period. The Harvard researchers' scenarios assume that each coronavirus patient will require 12 days of hospital care on average, based on data from China.

In the Rochester, MN region, intensive care units would be especially overwhelmed and require additional capacity. Without coronavirus patients, there are only 90 available beds on average in intensive care units, which is 2.2 times less than what is needed to care for all severe cases.

Duluth

As of 2018, Duluth, MN had 1,320 total hospital beds, of which about 61% were occupied, potentially leaving only 510 beds open for additional patients. The bed count includes 220 beds in intensive care units, according to data from the American Hospital Association and the American Hospital Directory. Intensive care units are best equipped to handle the most acute coronavirus cases.

The Duluth, MN region has a population of about 340,000 residents; 19% are over the age of 65. The experience in other countries has shown that elderly patients have significantly higher hospitalization and fatality rates from the coronavirus.

In the moderate scenario, in which 40% of the adult population contracts the disease over 12 months, Duluth, MN would be among the regions that would need to expand capacity.

It is estimated that about 8% of the adult population would require hospital care. In a moderate scenario where 40% of the population is infected over a 12-month period, hospitals in Duluth, MN would receive an estimated 23,300 coronavirus patients. The influx of patients would require 780 beds over 12 months, which is 153 percent of times the number of available beds in that time period. The Harvard researchers' scenarios assume that each coronavirus patient will require 12 days of hospital care on average, based on data from China.

In the Duluth, MN region, intensive care units would be especially overwhelmed and require additional capacity. Without coronavirus patients, there are only 73 available beds on average in intensive care units, which is 2.3 times less than what is needed to care for all severe cases.

ProPublica, a Patch Partner, is a nonprofit newsroom that investigates abuses of power and other public concerns. Click here to see ProPublica's full story and specifics about hospitals in your area.