By Sahar Chmais
Five ICU beds remain available in Trauma Service Area O (TSA-O) as of Aug. 22; TSA-O serves 11 counties, including Hays and Travis counties.
Not all ICU beds in the area are occupied by COVID-19 cases, but 262 of the 496 occupied ICU beds are coronavirus patients. Lack of ICU bed space not only affects coronavirus patients, but it also means that anyone who needs hospitalization in an ICU may not get the proper attention they need. The number of total ICU beds fluctuates depending on how many hospital staff are available.
As of Aug. 23, Hays County has 50 hospitalized residents due to the virus. Of those hospitalized, 41, or 82%, are unvaccinated. Of the unvaccinated patients, 19 are in the ICU on a ventilator and 8 are in the ICU but not on a ventilator. Only one of the hospitalized vaccinated residents is in the ICU.
Data comes from the Hays County Local Health Department (HCLHD), which receives information from the hospital systems that are accepting COVID-19 patients.
Hays County is still offering free vaccines to anyone ages 12 and older. For those who are homebound, HCLHD can arrange for a mobile vaccine.
