Minnesota

'The wave is coming up upon us': Critical care doctors already feeling effects of COVID surge, 11/6/20

In the Twin Cities, 98 percent of ICU beds are in use this week, as are 97 percent of general hospital beds. Statewide, there’s slightly more space — but not much.

And while a state dashboard shows there’s still some wiggle room in hospital bed capacity, state and hospital officials say that the prospect of labor shortages is making it increasingly difficult to staff even the beds that are available.

“Staffing is becoming an increasing problem,” Dotseth said. “Staff are sick, staff are caring for others who are sick, and staff are in quarantine because of a community exposure.

On Friday, Health Partners said it is rescheduling elective procedures and surgeries and transferring care to other locations across its system to meet patient needs, while allowing for as many free ICU beds as possible.