Arkansas ICU Units Near Capacity, Cases Near 10,000

USA Today reports:

Cases of COVID-19 have doubled in the U.S. in the past two weeks, and Arkansas is becoming a case study in how low vaccination rates can fuel the spread of the virus. Arkansas continues to be the nation’s top state for new cases per capita, and only 35% of the state’s population is fully vaccinated, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The virus appears to be largely sparing vaccinated people from the most severe illness.

“Of all of our critically ill COVID positive patients at Baptist Health facilities, none have been fully vaccinated,” said Stephanie Whitaker, chief nursing executive for Baptist Health, a major healthcare provider in the state. The state’s Department of Health said there are 240 COVID-19 patients in the state’s ICUs and 118 on ventilators. Only 4% of the state’s intensive care unit beds are available.

Read the full article.

“Of all of our critically ill COVID positive patients at Baptist Health facilities, none have been fully vaccinated.” https://t.co/xZFOgDGPTD

— Andy Slavitt ??? (@ASlavitt) July 17, 2021

COVID-19 in Arkansas: Active cases get closer to 10,000 heading into the weekend https://t.co/iNvL2uYbM6

— KARK 4 News (@KARK4News) July 16, 2021