Michigan hospital officials warn of strained health system
The Michigan Hospital Association is warning of strained health systems as COVID-19 surges across the state.
Michigan is fast approaching its highest number of COVID-19 hospitalizations since the pandemic began, with more than 3,900 patients currently receiving care, according to state data. The vast majority of patients in the ICU and on ventilators are unvaccinated.
"Most hospitals throughout the state have more patients in their emergency departments than they do available rooms and staff to care for them," officials wrote in a statement on Monday. "This results in long wait times, patients being placed in hallways or conference rooms, and diverting patients away from a hospital because there is no physical room or medical staff available to accept more patients."
"We are extremely concerned because our best predictions are that COVID-19 patients will continue to increase during the weeks ahead as we enter the yearly flu season," they said.
-ABC News' Arielle Mitropoulos