Pennsylvania could run out of ICU beds by next week
Pennsylvania Secretary of Health Dr. Rachel Levine warned in a news release that the state's hospitals could run out of ICU beds within a week.
“This week’s data, in terms of hospitalization increase, an increase in the use of ventilators, case increase and percent positivity are worrisome,” she said in a statement.
The 14-day average of patients hospitalized for COVID-19 has increased from 1,111 on Nov. 1 to 2,700 on Nov. 23, according to the Pennsylvania Health Department.
As of Nov. 19, the state has seen a seven-day case increase of 36,133 cases, according to the Health Department.
Gov. Tom Wolf urged residents to follow the state's health guidelines, including wearing a mask, avoiding travel and gatherings and washing their hands.
"Another week of significant increases of COVID-19 across Pennsylvania is a call to action," he said in a statement.