Some Triangle hospitals nearing capacity but COVID isn't the cause, sources tell WRAL News

COVID-19's prevalence in the community is increasing again at a time when many Triangle hospitals are seeing fewer beds available. The virus does not appear to be the main reason why, though.

For the sixth straight week, hospital admissions for COVID patients increased. However, this metric and others tracked by public health officials remain far below our peak.

"COVID-19 is still with us and we are going to continue to see COVID trends rise and fall," said Morgan Poole, Wake County’s epidemiology program manager.

Poole says the county is in communication with the hospital systems, letting them know about trends like the uptick in the virus’s prevalence in wastewater. According to state's latest data, the amount collected last week was the fourth highest this year. A sign the virus is in communities all over the state.

"They’re aware of the situation and can address capacity needs," Poole said.

Many hospitals are nearing capacity, according to federal health data. For the week ending on Aug. 5, Duke University and Duke Regional are both operating near full capacity, at 99% and 97%, respectively, data shows. Wake Med in Raleigh and Cary as well as Cape Fear, also have few beds available.

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The recent virus uptick isn’t the source, though, according to multiple sources at different hospitals around the area.

It’s just business-as-usual – elective surgeries are back on the books as well as typical care and treatment. That, on top of a growing population in the area especially of older North Carolinians, is what is leading to our current high occupancy rates. This is unlike when we experienced a peak in the virus, though, when elective surgeries were canceled.

Additionally, care looks different. COVID wards are no longer present at any hospitals. Patients isolate in their rooms where precautions are put in place to ensure the safety of staff as well as other patients.

"Our physicians and other providers have learned so much about caring for COVID patients since the pandemic began," said Alan Wolf, with UNC Health. "It’s really become part of our hospital teams’ routine."

While COVID isn’t the cause for so many beds being full, sources said seeing a significant increase in patients would definitely strain an already stressed system.