Intensive care units across the U.S. are saturated… "You may have to give up treatment"

<Anchor> In the

United States, intensive care units across the United States are approaching saturation as the number of corona patients increases explosively. There are even concerns that they may have to choose to give up treatment.

Correspondent Yunsu Kim from Washington.

<Reporter> In the

past week, the average number of new confirmed cases per day in the United States has exceeded 160,000.

The average number of inpatients per day also exceeded 100,000.

This is the worst level since last winter.

The hospital's intensive care unit is getting saturated everywhere.

80% of intensive care units across the U.S. are occupied, and one-third of them are COVID-19 patients.

[James Black/Doctor of Emergency Medicine: The emergency room is full of patients, and the whole hospital is saturated. We are unable to accommodate many patients.]

In eight states with low vaccination rates, particularly Georgia, Texas, and Florida, 90% of adult intensive care units are full.

At this rate, there are even concerns that the intensive care unit may have to be abandoned in the near future.

In these areas, not only adults but also children who are hospitalized with COVID-19 or go to the emergency room after school starts are increasing significantly.

[Pouch / Director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases: Friends, family, teachers, and school staff around children should all get the vaccine and surround the children.]

As the average number of new cases per day more than quadrupled compared to last year during the Labor Day holiday, the COVID-19 situation in the United States is getting worse than when there was no vaccine.