DALLAS (WBAP/KLIF) – North Texas is experiencing a spike in COVID-19 hospitalizations as 2020 comes to an end.
“Our hospital numbers are at all-time highs and our availability of ICU beds in the region is at an all-time low,” Dallas County Judge Clay Jenkins said on Tuesday.
According to Jenkins, one in four persons currently hospitalized in Dallas County has COVID and approximately 30% of those hospitalized in the region have the virus. UT Southwestern projections indicate that local numbers of COVID hospitalizations will rise dramatically by January 5.
“It is imperative that all of us make the small, smart sacrifices to keep ourselves and our community as healthy as possible in this time of high spread,” Jenkins said.
While DFW hospital systems have plans in place to expand hospital bed capacity, local leaders and health official are concerned about the impact increased hospitalizations will have on hospital staff.
“When we are overrun people will be cared for by doctors and nurses who have more patients than is considered optimal,” Jenkins insisted.
The good news for the local health community is that healthcare workers continue to receive COVID-19 vaccinations. Elderly and vulnerable populations have also begun to be vaccinated.
Listen to Clayton Neville’s story below:
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