'Severe Overcrowding' At Emory Hospitals Throughout DeKalb County

DEKALB COUNTY, GA — Emory Decatur, Emory Hillandale and Emory University hospitals' emergency departments are "severely overcrowded" and turning away ambulances, nearing capacity in intensive care units or diverting patients elsewhere as of Tuesday.

According to the Georgia Coordinating Center (GCC) website, which tracks hospital activity to guide ambulance services, here's how Emory Decatur, Hillandale and University hospitals are faring as COVID-19 cases spike:

• Emory Decatur Hospital's emergency room and ICU are nearing capacity.
• Emory Hillandale Hospital is diverting all EMS patients and ambulance traffic.
• Emory University Hospital is unable to accept incoming ambulance traffic in its emergency room and ICU, and is nearing capacity in the ICU.

The GCC was established in 2019 after flooding at Grady Memorial Hospital in Atlanta severely damaged its emergency room, limiting its ability to accept ambulance traffic. GCC's website posts capacity information from Georgia hospitals, with the busiest facilities updating their status regularly.

Unvaccinated Georgians sick with COVID-19 are creating much of the congestion at emergency rooms, public health officials say. About 40 percent of Georgians are vaccinated, while the national average is about 50 percent. At the same time, according to hospital executives as related by Gov. Brian Kemp at a Monday news conference, "more than 90 percent" of those currently hospitalized for COVID-19 are unvaccinated.

"This safe, effective vaccine reduces the likelihood that you will get infected by COVID-19," Kemp said to reporters Monday. "But more importantly, it drastically will reduce the chances of you ending up in a hospital bed or losing your life."

For information on where to be tested for or vaccinated against COVID-19 in Douglas County, visit the DeKalb County Board of Health website. For a list of Georgia hospitals and their capacity to accept new or emergency patients, visit the Georgia Coordinating Center's website.

Patch Editor Jim Massara contributed to this report.