Predicted hospital bed shortages in the US
NEXT Not even COVID-19 can cancel 4/20
Predicted hospital bed shortages in the US
NEXT Not even COVID-19 can cancel 4/20
Flattening the curve
By now, we know that flattening the curve is one of the most important things we can do to tackle the COVID-19 pandemic. If not, China and Italy showed us that hospitals are forced to choose which patients receive life-saving resources and how the death rate can increase dramatically.
A similar fate for the US
The MIT Technology Review has charted how many times each state's maximum projected need for ICU beds will exceed its available capacity. While some states that are following social distancing can avoid the worst, others are planned to be completely overwhelmed.
Worst projected bed shortages
On the graphs, it is clear that the states of Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, and Rhode Island will have the worst hospital bed shortages. Connecticut is expected to go 20 times over the number of available beds.
Projected surplus of beds
On a more positive note, some states will potentially have extra hospital beds for patients. Montana, New Hampshire, Missouri, Idaho and Ohio might be able to offer their free beds to people from other states who might feel sick.
Only projections
Of course, these graphs are only a snapshot in time. They were created using projections, which means they will still change over time as states implement new measures to flatten their respective curves or increase their capacity.
