Availability of Local ICU Beds Remains Low

YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio – The number of available hospital beds in the Mahoning Valley remains low, according to data from the Ohio Center for Journalism, as the COVID-19 situation hasn’t improved since the beginning of December.

As of Dec. 23, the most recent date for which data is available, St. Elizabeth Youngstown Hospital and St. Joseph Warren Hospital each had zero adult intensive care unit beds available. On Dec. 18, St. Joseph was the same level, while St. Elizabeth Youngstown had eight ICU beds. 

Meanwhile, only one area hospital has more than 10 adult ICU beds available: Trumbull Regional Medical Center in Warren with 23, up from eight on Dec. 18. Salem Regional Medical Center reported 5 such beds available, one more than the previous report. They were the only area hospitals to have an increased bed availability. 

St. Elizabeth Boardman Hospital had one available ICU bed, down from the two reported Dec. 18, while East Liverpool City Hospital had four available beds, even with the previous report.

Across Ohio, the data show, there were 451 ICU beds available on Dec. 23, though the chart over the past month is filled with peaks and valleys, with Fridays often being the low points. For example, the Ohio Center for Journalism’s data shows 1,459 beds available Dec. 22; a similar change is seen in the previous release, when 1,414 beds were available Dec. 17 and just 387 beds available Dec. 18. Other sharp changes can be seen Dec. 3 and 4, as well as Dec. 10 and 11.

The full dataset from the Ohio Center for Journalism, which also includes information on the availability of personal protective equipment, can be viewed HERE.

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