CLEVELAND, Ohio — Hospitals in Cuyahoga County this week recorded the highest usage of intensive-care beds since the coronavirus outbreak began in Northeast Ohio, the Board of Health reported Friday.
Seventy-seven percent of available ICU beds were filled as of Friday, marking an increase of five percentage points over last week. The usage of ICU beds dropped off in mid-April, but has steadily risen since April 24, surpassing previous highs in early April, board data show.
Board Medical Director Dr. Heidi Gullett drew attention to the increases on Friday during a media briefing. She noted that area hospitals have plans in place to increase the number of available beds in the event of a surge in patients requiring intensive care.
“I felt it was important for everyone to see where we are as we begin to re-open,” Gullett said.
Ventilator usage this week increased by 1 percentage point to 33%.
Usage of non-intensive care beds at local hospitals remains unchanged from last week, at 70%, the board reported. But that number could fluctuate in the coming days as more people receive elective surgeries that were delayed earlier in the outbreak, Gullett said.
Of tests administered at the Cleveland Clinic, MetroHealth and University Hospitals, 7.1% have been positive for coronavirus. This week, about 22,000 tests were administered at hospitals, up from the 14,000 tests that were administered last week, Gullett reported.
Of the 2,579 suburban county residents who have tested positive, 415 have required hospitalization, including 118 who required admission to intensive-care units.
Gullett and Health Commissioner Terry Allan on Friday urged Cuyahoga County residents to adhere to safety guidelines during the upcoming Memorial Day weekend, and as the economy continues to re-open.
“We know that as people interact, and as we see some leakage around the social distancing guidelines — where people are not doing as well as they could with wearing masks, keeping their distance and staying home while sick — [it] will inevitably result in more cases,” Allan said.