More Than 90 Percent Of Staffed Wisconsin Hospital Beds Are Full

MADISON, WI —On average, Wisconsin hospitals have fewer than 10 percent of staffed beds available, though the number of new COVID-19 cases is nowhere near the numbers reported at the height of the pandemic.

Data from the state Department of Health Services shows 90.6 percent of hospital beds and 93.3 percent of ICU beds are in use as of September 14. This is a measure of not only actual beds, but also of people beside the beds taking care of patients.

The president and CEO of ThedaCare, Dr. Iman Andrabi, told Wisconsin Public Radio it has been harder to hire and keep health care workers. ThedaCare serves patients in northeast and central Wisconsin.

Andrabi also said that younger people are being infected, and spending more time in the hospital, in a statement on ThedaCare's website.

There are still almost 80 percent of ventilators available.

Right now in Wisconsin, there is a 7-day average of 1,048 patients hospitalized for COVID-19.