Fewer patients with COVID-19 infections are now being seen by or admitted to King’s Daughters Medical Center than in recent months.

In February, King’s Daughters Medical Center in Brookhaven had 50 percent of its ICU beds occupied — four of eight, and three of the four patients were COVID positive.

As of April 4, KDMC had 23 patients — slightly above its pre-pandemic average of 20 — with five in ICU. None of those patients were COVID-positive.

“We saw 52 patients in the emergency room with 11 being COVID-related,” said KDMC Marketing Director David Culpepper. “We are seeing less COVID admissions at this time.”

Hospital capacity overall has improved significantly in Mississippi and nationwide since the beginning of 2022.

In January, 78 percent of intensive care unit beds were occupied and 29 percent of hospitals were dealing with critical staffing shortages. As of April 5, 69 percent of ICU beds were in use and 19 percent of hospitals were still facing staff shortages.

Results were compiled by QuoteWizard from data compiled by Health and Human Services and the Kaiser Family Foundation.

The improvement in capacity directly corresponds with a decline in COVID-19 cases.

The largest decreases in staffing shortages have occurred in three states — Colorado, Iowa and Mississippi. Mississippi’s staffing problems have dropped by 31 percent since January. Just 13 percent of the state’s hospitals now have staffing shortages.

In Mississippi, 88 percent of ICU beds were in use during January. In April, 78 percent of ICU beds were occupied — a 13 percent decrease.

Mississippi was ranked 20^th best prepared for hospital capacity statewide. In addition to its 78 percent ICU capacity, the state has an average of 2.8 ICU beds and 3.3 physicians per 1,000 residents.