More than 80% of U.S. hospital beds are in use nationwide, jumping 8 percentage points in the past two weeks, a CNN analysis of data from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services reported Dec. 9. This makes it the highest level since January 2022.
While the percentage of COVID-19 patients occupying beds is lower than in January, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) report that all but 6 of the 50 states are experiencing “high” or “very high” respiratory viruses as seasonal flu activity remains “high and continues to increase,” the CDC reports. Over the past decade, flu has led to between 120,000 and 260,000 hospitalizations, and killed between 20,000 and 50,000 Americans per year, depending on virulence of the strain, rates of inoculation, etc.
Another vector is respiratory syncytial virus infection (RSV), which usually, but not always strikes children. Nancy Foster, vice president of the American Hospital Association reported, “RSV is filling pediatric beds and cribs along with patients who are sick now, due to putting off care during COVID-19, which has required more intensive and complex care.”
