Hospitals feel pinch from COVID combined with early flu season
Minnesota reported an unusually high number of flu-like outbreaks in schools this early in the fall
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November 18, 2022
Richard Tsong-Taatarii, Star Tribune
Because of the shortage of beds, patients were placed and seen in the hallways of the emergency department at St. John's Hospital in Maplewood on Nov. 3.
COVID-19 cases might not be on the rise in Minnesota, but the ever-present pandemic is combining with the start of flu season to pressure hospitals.
Total inpatient bed usage statewide has risen above 8,000 on four separate days this month - a rough threshold for when the health care systems are near peak capacity, according to Thursday's weekly state pandemic update.
About 475 of those patients have been treated for COVID-19 on any given day in November. COVID-19 cases requiring intensive care reached 63 on Nov. 9 - the first time that number has been above 60 since March 4 - but other indicators of pandemic activity are relatively stable.
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