ICU Beds In Larimer, Weld Counties Reach Full Capacity Once Again

On August 29, intensive care units (ICU) in Larimer County hospitals hit full capacity. Nearly a month later, that hasn’t changed — the county’s ICUs have been operating at or over capacity since August 30.

Now, CBS4 reports that both Larimer and Weld counties are completely out of ICU beds, largely thanks to the delta variant and, in Weld County’s case, low vaccination rates.

“I”m begging, pleading our community to get vaccinated as soon as possible and wear a mask indoors right now so we can slow the spread and give our hospitals a break,” Tom Gonzales, Director of the Larimer County Department of Health and Environment (LCDHE), told the station. “I’m concerned. This can’t last much longer.”

Preventing a COVID-19 patient from needing the ICU in the first place is key, because by the time the case is serious enough to require the ICU, the patient is usually there for more than two weeks.

According to CBS4, the majority of the patients in the counties’ ICUs are not vaccinated.

“Unfortunately what we’re seeing though, too, is people who aren’t vaccinated are primarily driving the amount of hospitalizations now,” Eric Aakko, a spokesman for the Weld County Department of Public Health and Environment, told the station. “With anything these days there is misinformation and we just want to…tell people it is safe, it is effective, and we’ve got plenty of vaccines available.”

Along with asking the public to get vaccinated, officials are also encouraging employers to return to remote work environments to help slow the spread.

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Source: ICU Beds In Larimer, Weld Counties Reach Full Capacity Once Again