DALLAS (WBAP/KLIF) – Medical experts and local leaders said Tuesday that capacity in North Texas pediatric hospitals is shrinking fast amid a surge in COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations.
“We now have, for 19 counties, two pediatric ICU beds,” Dallas County Judge Clay Jenkins said during a COVID briefing.
According to Jenkins, occupancy among all hospitals in the region is close to 90%.
Doctors are also growing concerned about the spread of COVID-19 in younger populations. Dallas County Medical Director Phil Huang said the fastest growing COVID hospitalization rate is among residents 18-49 years-old.
“What that reflects, is that we’ve been very successful getting the person 65 and older vaccinated,” said Huang. “But now, it’s these younger groups that are still vulnerable to hospitalization and death.”
Huang promoted the COVID vaccine as the best protection against the virus.
A significant rise in COVID trends is also being seen in children, who can’t be vaccinated if their younger than 12.
Copyright 2021. WBAP/KLIF News. All Rights Reserved.
