PEORIA, Ill. — The Peoria City/County Health Department announced hospitalizations have reached a new high for the region during its weekly COVID-19 update.
Public Health Administrator Monica Hendrickson reported Thursday over 200 hospital beds were currently in use by coronavirus patients.
Among these hospitalizations, 59 people were in the intensive care unit. 40 of these cases were confirmed COVID cases, and the remaining 19 were in intensive care with possible cases.
For Region 2, there was over 30% hospital bed capacity remaining, but this percentage was expected to continue to decrease.
“Even though there is bed capacity now, it doesn’t mean there’s going to be a lot of bed capacity later on. It is decreasing, and we expect it to continue to decrease because hospital capacity is a lagging indicator,” said Hendrickson.
She also stated typical ICU access lasts two to three days for non-coronavirus patients, but for COVID-19 patients, ICU stays can last up to 10 days.
If patients are released from the hospital, there is still a chance they may have to return.
“There’s a high percentage of people that once they are discharged can come back in to the system,” stated Hendrickson.
Dehydration is a common reason some patients return to hospitals after being released.
In the 24-hour period between Wednesday and Thursday, one person died from virus complications: a woman in her 60s from Peoria County who did have comorbidities and did not live in long-term care.
Beginning Friday, Nov. 20, the state of Illinois will begin tier three mitigations.
