The United States healthcare system is experiencing an unprecedented overload due to the proliferation of the COVID-19 Omicron variant. The intensive care unit (ICU) is 78% full. Dr. James Phillips, head of outbreak medicine at George Washington University Hospital, made the announcement on Thursday.
This week, the United States broke pandemic records with more than half a million cases of COVID-19 occurring daily. Along with this, the number of infected people admitted to the hospital has increased dramatically. In some states, it has nearly tripled and burdened the flow of healthcare facilities.
As of Thursday, 78% of ICU beds were filled, according to the US Department of Health and Human Services, of which 22% were COVID-19 patients.
Like many other countries, the United States is now facing a new wave of Omicron pandemic.
