ST. LOUIS — The St. Louis Metropolitan Pandemic Task Force reported its hospital bed capacity is at 81% as of Monday.
This comes ahead of a holiday weekend, in which health officials are warning against gatherings.
The first step to help reduce the spread of the virus is to "assess current COVID-19 levels in your community to determine whether to postpone, cancel, or limit the number of attendees," the CDC said. Health officials recommend celebrating virtually.
"First, on behalf of health care professionals throughout the region, I want to thank those of you who are adjusting or changing your holiday plans to help us deal with that surge in patients," Dr. Alexander Garza - head of the task force - said at the beginning of the briefing.
"Again, this is not what any of us wanted for this holiday season. But by avoiding travel and large family gatherings right now, you will help prevent an even more deadly surge later on. So we very much appreciate that," he added.
On Friday, the task force issued a warning that -- although there may be room in the hospitals -- there may soon be a shortage of staff who are qualified to take care of patients who are sick with COVID-19 or other emergency health issues.
The following data are the combined figures from the four major health systems (BJC HealthCare, Mercy, SSM Health, St. Luke’s Hospital) that are part of the task force, for Nov. 23.
- New hospital admissions (data lagged two days) decreased from 119* to 89 today.
- The seven-day moving average of hospital admissions (data lagged two days) decreased – from 140* to 136.
- The seven-day moving average of hospitalizations increased – from 844 yesterday to 854 today, a new seven-day moving average record.
- Inpatient confirmed COVID positive hospitalizations increased – from 830 yesterday to 881 today, which ties the hospitalization data record.
- Inpatient suspected COVID positive hospitalizations increased – from 131 yesterday to 153 today.
- The number of confirmed COVID positive patients in the ICUs increased – from 165 yesterday to 170 today.
- The number of confirmed COVID positive patients on ventilators remained the same at 88 today.
- Across the system hospitals, 85 COVID-19 patients were discharged yesterday, bringing the cumulative number of COVID-19 patients discharged to 9,983.
As of Monday, staffed bed hospital capacity is at 81%, an average across our task force hospitals. The ICU’s are at 84% of their total staffed bed capacity.
*Due to a delay in test results, Nov. 21 admissions increased from 101 to 119. Adjustments were also made to Nov.16 – 20 which changed the seven-day moving average from 136 to 140, a new seven-day moving average record.