"hospitals in idaho, pennsylvania, and texas overwhelmed by covid patients!"

that's a scary headline. it's also a false one.

we have data on this (and so would they if they bothered to get any)

idaho: (as of 12/4) 57% of inpatient beds used, 14.6% covid. 74% overall ICU
90% of inpatient beds and ICU is normal. even 100% ICU is normal. 57% is staggeringly low, like OMG we're all going out of business low.

calling that overwhelmed is outlandish.

ICU of 74% is also low. even 100% ICU is not "full". all can flex to 125%. it's federal mandate.
most ICU's can flex to 150-200%. they just do not leave the beds staffed when they are not needed. it's too expensive.

hospitals are like airlines or hotels: they seek to be full, not empty. building capacity you do not use is how you lose money. https://twitter.com/boriquagato/status/1276583838567653376?s=20
but hey, maybe they got PA right, huh?

nope. 17% covid, 73% all beds, 82% all ICU. those are all low numbers, esp for this time of year. dec and jan are peak flu and pneumonia season.
well, maybe texas?

nope.

15% covid, 73% all beds, 82% ICU. again, all low numbers.

and hey, if you do not believe me, go read the article i linked above. the TX hospital CEO's will tell you the same.
this is not rocket science guys, it's hospital admin 101. you can always find some 2nd year resident having a meltdown and get a scare quote. it's why so many docs wash out of hospital practice.

but these are low numbers, not high. there is no "crisis" in US hospitals.
nor was there last time. even perennial basket case NYC was never overwhelmed. they never used javits nor the hospital ship.

pics like this are used to scare you. then you discover it's from 2018. in pennsylvania.

huh.
it's like the whole world, egged on by media and government seeking to frighten and inflame rather than inform has lost all historical perspective this year.

they are telling it like it ain't.

it's panic porn clickbait.
there is no excuse for reporting like this in an age when anyone can check this tool in seconds and see the actual figures.

i suggest you all bookmark it.

use it to check the stories you're being told.

the sanity you save may be your own. https://protect-public.hhs.gov/pages/hospital-capacity
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