Gov. J.B. Pritzker highlighted Peoria Tuesday as a community his staff is watching closely for a potential intensive care unit (ICU) bed shortage.
But Peoria City/County Health Department administrator Monica Hendrickson said Peoria's hospitals are equipped to take on both COVID-19 cases and the other medical emergencies they encounter.
"I would say our local numbers are the ones that are more accurate, because our hospitals have been expanding their capacity continuously," she said. "And so that one time, point-in-time shot that the governor's referring to, might be data that is no longer valid. Right now, our hospital bed capacity between the four hospitals is just over 300."
Pritzker said about 42 percent of Peoria ICU beds are currently vacant. Hendrickson said that ratio is correct, but area hospitals have about 50 more beds than the governor's office cited.
About 35 percent of ICU beds statewide were free as of Monday.
Hendrickson said non-essential surgery cancellations and a dip in car accident rates due to decreased traveling have contributed to drops in overall ICU usage recently. Peoria is a regional medical center serving 19 central Illinois counties.
Currently, 16 confirmed or suspected COVID-19 cases are in the ICU. About 10 percent of Peoria's ventilators are in usage by both COVID-19 and other patients. Statewide, about 57 percent of vents were available.
There were 37 total positive cases in Peoria, Tazewell, and Woodford counties on Tuesday. That's up five from Monday.
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