How COVID Rise Impacts Hospital Capacities In Burlington County

BURLINGTON COUNTY, NJ — The recent spike in COVID-19 cases has put New Jersey hospitals under some strain. The state reported 1,526 hospital patients with confirmed or suspected cases — its highest figure since April 30.

Here's how hospitals in Burlington County fared the week of Nov. 18 — the most recent period of available data from the Department of Health and Human Services:

• Weisman Children’s Rehabilitation Hospital in Marlton: 50 percent of inpatient beds available, Percent of ICU beds available not applicable
• Virtua Memorial Hospital in Mount Holly: 32.39 percent of inpatient beds available, 52.78 percent of ICU beds available
• Acuity Specialty Hospital of South Jersey in Willingboro: 51.72 percent of inpatient beds available, Percent of ICU beds available not applicable
• Virtua Hospital in Willingboro: 32.78 percent of inpatient beds available, 65 percent of ICU beds available
• Deborah Heart and Lung Center in Pemberton: 42.31 percent of inpatient beds available, 46.15 percent of ICU beds available

The ratio of COVID-19 hospitalizations to total beds provides insight into how much strain a hospital is under. The ratio becomes concerning when it rises higher than 10 percent and represents "extreme stress" above 20 percent, hospital-capacity experts told NPR.

In Burlington County, only Acuity Specialty Care exceeded the 10 percent threshold, checking in at 11 percent, according to NPR. Virtua Willingboro reported 9 percent of beds in use by COVID patients, while Virtua Mount Holly had 8 percent in use by patients with the virus. Six percent of hospital beds at Deborah Heart and Lung Center were occupied by COVID patients.

Despite the recent increase in hospitalizations, New Jersey has made progress compared to this time a year ago, when the state reported 3,572 COVID inpatients.

As of Friday, there have been 60,822 Burlington County residents have tested positive for the coronavirus since the pandemic began in March 2020. There have been 984 deaths.