Hospitals around the state have 2,500 hospital beds in intensive care units, right now.
State Department of Health Services Secretary Andrea Palm says 620 ventilators are available statewide. She hopes the state won’t get to the point where they’re all being used, because of the social distancing moves the state is taking.
But Palm says they’re looking at potential locations, in case they need to open make-shift hospitals. She says they could include college dorms, hotels, and other state-owned buildings.
Palm says they might also need places for people to stay, if they’re in isolation. She doesn’t think the state should send them home, and potentially spread the virus to the rest of the family.
With ventilators, Palm expects the state could get more from the federal government’s reserve supply. She says hospitals and other state partners are also looking for places they could buy them.
