There are currently 46 people hospitalized with COVID-19 at IU Health Arnett and Franciscan Health hospitals
Able to help serve all the patients who currently need care.
This is due to rising covid-19 case numbers here in tippecanoe county.
News 18's anna darling attended today's briefing with local leaders.
She shares what our hospitals are currently facing, anna?
Right now there are 46 people hospitalized at iu health arnett and franciscan health with covid-19.
14 people are in the intensive care unit and foureople are on ventilators.
This increase is putting a strain on our local hospital resources.
Today we only heard from dr. james bien from iu health arnett.
Dr. daniel wickert from franciscan health was not able to attend today's briefing.
Dr. bien says iu health arnett has been at or near in- patient capacity consistently over the past two weeks.
He says they are having to covert spaces in the hospital in spaces for patients.
Currently arnett's ambulance bay is being used as a temporary holding center.
He says they are having to rely on iu health satellite locations to help the influx of patients.
"the hospitals in summary are under consistent pressure adult in-patient beds.
We're using our regional smaller hospitals for iu health up in monticello and in frankfort" he says restricting elective surgeries is on the table as a way keep more beds open for covid patients.
He estimates there are around 300 adult beds between the iu health arnett and franciscan health.
Local leaders remain optimistic as we are getting closer to sending purdue students home for their extended holiday break.
Also the county-wide social gathering order goes into effect today.
It limits all gatherings to 100 people or less.
If an event is going to exceed that number, event organizers must submit a written covid mitigation plan to the county health department.
Reporting live anna darling news 18.
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