Coronavirus: ICU Beds In Twin Cities Hospitals 96 Percent Full

TWIN CITIES, MN — More than 96 percent of the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) beds in the Minneapolis-St. Paul metro area are in use Monday, according to state data. Hospitals in the Twin Cities metro are almost at capacity as a result of the ongoing surge in coronavirus cases in Minnesota.

Only 3.6 percent of the metro's ICU beds are not being used at the moment. If that number keeps shrinking, residents suffering severe illness — be it COVID-19 or something else — may not get the care they needs.

Less than 3 percent of non-ICU beds are available in Twin Cities metro hospitals.

Minnesota statewide has 1,122 ICU beds, and 1,212 are currently being used.

Record COVID-19 deaths continue

Nearly 380 COVID-19 deaths were recorded in Minnesota between Friday and Sunday, figures from the state Department of Health show. A record 101 deaths were reported on Friday alone.

"Thanksgiving Weekend is a sad time to have to report a new daily record for COVID-19 deaths in Minnesota," Minnesota Commissioner of Health Jan Malcolm said in a statement Friday.

From Sunday, Nov. 22 through Saturday, Nov. 29, Minnesota recorded 377 deaths.

"This is a sad development, but it is not a surprising development. For weeks we have been sounding the alarm about the dramatic growth in COVID-19 cases. We know that more cases leads to more hospitalizations and deaths, and today's news reinforces that tragic pattern."

Families across Minnesota Thursday skipped annual Thanksgiving Day celebrations and traditions to avoid spreading the virus. Others continued on like normal.

On Monday, the state reported 15 more COVID-19 deaths and 5,801 new cases.