Grady Hospital nearing capacity with COVID-19 patients

ATLANTA — Grady Memorial Hospital is facing its highest number of COVID-19 patients since the pandemic began.

The influx of patients is causing the hospital to near capacity.

Statewide, the Georgia Department of Emergency Management says only 48% of emergency room beds are available with 86% of ICU beds full and just 23% of general inpatient beds remaining.

Channel 2′s Carol Sbarge contacted Grady Memorial Hospital for more information.

Doctor Robert Jansen, Chief Medical Officer for Grady Memorial Hospital, says they’re seeing a trend that is especially concerning.

The number of COVID-19 patients is increasing. One month ago, the hospital was down to about 20 COVID-19 patients. Now that number has more than quadrupled.

“We are running in the 90s,” Jansen said. “Which is the highest we’ve had.”

According to Jansen, the previous high was 75 total patients.

Younger patients have made up the biggest increase in recent weeks however the hospital is now seeing a jump in patients who are in their 60s and 70s being admitted.

“They are the ones who are at a higher risk of not doing well or dying so that’s very concerning to me,” Jansen said.

A governor’s office spokesperson said 60 extra beds were opening at Piedmont Atlanta Hospital on Tuesday. Those beds will be used first and then the beds at Georgia World Congress Center.

Jansen says we can all make a difference by social distancing and wearing masks.

“Tell the people who are in the hospital who are sick, tell the people who are having to take care of those folks that you don’t want to wear masks,” Jansen said. “You know, come visit them and see what they are going through.”

Jansen says there are fewer COVID-19 patients in the ICU than before and that some treatments have helped.

Cox Media Group