Open AccessProjecting hospital utilization during the COVID-19 outbreaks in the United States
Author(s) -
Seyed M. Moghadas,
Affan Shoukat,
Meagan C. Fitzpatrick,
Chad R. Wells,
Pratha Sah,
Abhishek Pandey,
Jeffrey D. Sachs,
Zheng Wang,
Lauren Ancel Meyers,
Burton H. Singer,
Alison P. Galvani
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
proceedings of the national academy of sciences of the united states of america
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 5.011
H-Index - 771
eISSN - 1091-6490
pISSN - 0027-8424
DOI - 10.1073/pnas.2004064117
Subject(s) - interquartile range , outbreak , isolation (microbiology) , medicine , intensive care unit , emergency medicine , population , intensive care , covid-19 , disease , intensive care medicine , environmental health , infectious disease (medical specialty) , virology , biology , microbiology and biotechnology
Significance Our results highlight that the growing coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak in the United States could gravely challenge the critical care capacity, thereby exacerbating case fatality rates. In the absence of a preventive vaccine, efforts to contain the outbreak, such as improving self-isolation rates and encouraging better hygiene practices, can alleviate some of the pressures faced by the healthcare system during an outbreak. Both emergency expansion of hospital facilities to treat COVID-19 and government appropriations to facilitate voluntary case isolation are urgently needed.