ATLANTA (AP) – Atlanta’s public safety net hospital became the latest to temporarily cancel elective surgeries on Wednesday, saying it’s being overrun with COVID-19 patients.
Grady Memorial Hospital CEO John Haupert made the announcement, saying that the hospital was “inundated” with patients over the Labor Day weekend even though it was officially diverting ambulances.
“Because of the strain this is putting on the health system, our patients, and our staff, we must make some changes to the way we operate,” Haupert wrote. “As of today, we are canceling non-essential outpatient surgery and procedures. We will regularly review patient volumes to determine when we can resume those services.”
More than 5,900 people sickened by the respiratory illness were in Georgia hospitals on Wednesday. COVID-19 patient numbers have been hovering around 6,000, a record high, for more than a week across Georgia. Across the state, 97% of intensive care beds were in use Wednesday, an all-time high.
Some other Georgia hospitals were already postponing elective surgeries, as more than 50 hospitals statewide Wednesday reported they were turning away ambulances bringing emergency or ICU patients.