DCH Regional Health System is expanding its inpatient wards to prepare for the surge of inpatients as the Delta variant spreads rapidly in West Alabama.

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Of the 90 inpatients reported at DCH Tuesday, 23 are in the ICU and 10 have been placed on a ventilator. In just two weeks, inpatient numbers have increased six fold, prompting administrators to move patients to expand COVID-19 wards.

Andy North, Vice President of Marketing and Communications at DCH, confirmed the provider's recent adjustments to the Tuscaloosa Thread.

"We have been working to create units again where COVID-19 patients can cohort," North said.

"This is mostly happening at DCH Regional Medical Center but we are caring for COVID-19 patients at all three."

North said the overwhelming majority of COVID patients requiring hospitalization have not been vaccinated against the virus.

"[O]ver 90 percent of the COVID positive patients we have been caring for were not vaccinated," North said.

North stressed that the public needs to know the COVID-19 is safe and effective and that being vaccinated helps to reduce the tremendous strain placed upon providers in West Alabama.

"Everyone who is eligible, should get the vaccine as [...] vaccination will help reduce the strain on the healthcare system and slow the spread of the virus," North said.

DCH continues to offer vaccination at its remote laundry lot site and has also recently changed its visitation policies in an attempt to slow the spread of the novel Coronavirus.

Read More: 'We Need Your Help:' DCH COO Begs West Alabama Residents to Get COVID-19 Vaccine as Patient Admissions Spike

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Alabama COVID-19 Vaccine Breakdown (June 2021)

Each graphic shows how many people are vaccinated in all of Alabama's 67 counties, plus the percentage of vaccinated people versus that county's total population. This data was pulled from the Alabama Department of Public Health, county health departments and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

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