#Florida ICU bed shortage at several hospitals amid coronavirus surge

At least three hospitals in Palm Beach County, Florida are out of intensive care beds as the number of coronavirus cases in the state spikes dramatically, according to a report Thursday.

Hospitals in the county — including Palms West Hospital, Palm Beach Gardens Medical Center, Wellington Regional Medical Center — had zero adult ICU beds left on Thursday, as nearby areas reported few open, according to NBC affiliate WPTV, which cited state health data.

In total, 18 percent of critical-care beds were open in the county while fewer were available in other parts of Florida, according to the state’s Agency for Health Care Administration, which tracks hospital bed availability.

But Wellington Regional Medical Center disputed the state data, saying there were in fact eight available ICU beds at the hospital, according to WPTV.

“Our critical care bed availability is greater than the Palm Beach County average reported by the Agency for Healthcare Administration,” a spokesman said. “In the event we see a surge of cases that need to be hospitalized, our hospitals have plans in place to continue providing care safely, and include the ability to increase our critical care capacity.”

Only 9 percent of the beds were left in nearby St. Lucie County, 12 percent were open in Okeechobee County, and 63 percent were up for grabs in Martin County, according to the report.

In total, more than 75 percent of adult ICU beds were occupied in Florida Thursday, according to the local station WCTV.

The alarming uptick in cases comes after Florida was hit by a record number of new infections — 2,783 new cases single day — earlier this week, and as scientists predict the state could become a new epicenter for the pandemic.

Earlier this week, Palm Beach County Emergency Management Director Bill Johnson said the area is “not in a crisis mode” but that a “surge plan” will go into effect.