Multi-sector How do new COVID-19 cases compare with available ICU beds and business activity?

UBS Evidence Lab tracks the number of new COVID-19 cases per open intensive care unit (ICU) bed by county to see where healthcare systems may be under strain.

19 Jun 2020
  • We also compare changes in new cases to various measures of reopening, such as business locations open, number of hourly employees, dining out at restaurants, and traffic congestion.
  • The number of new cases per open ICU bed has declined in the Northeast and southern California, while it has increased in many parts of the Southeast.
  • The states with the highest number per open bed are Maryland, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Virginia.
  • The ratio has been declining in Rhode Island and Massachusetts, while it is relatively flat in Maryland and has risen slightly in Virginia.
  • Arizona and Florida have seen the largest week-on-week increase in cases, while Illinois and New York have seen the largest decrease.
  • New cases per ICU bed have risen notably in Arizona and slightly in Florida, while they have been falling in Illinois and New York.
  • States reporting the largest week-on-week increase in cases generally have more business locations open than those reporting the largest decrease in cases.
Back to Covid-19 insights

New COVID-19 Cases (Rolling 2 Weeks) / Open ICU Bed - June 3

Source: UBS Evidence Lab, Johns Hopkins University

* Illustrates the number of COVID-19 cases (rolling 2 weeks) in counties that have either ICU bed overcapacity, no hospitals, or hospitals with no reported ICU beds

States with Highest Ratio of New Cases (Rolling 2 Weeks) / Open ICU Bed

Source: UBS Evidence Lab, Johns Hopkins University

New Cases (Rolling 2 Weeks) / Open ICU Beds in States with Largest Increase/Decrease in Cases

Source: UBS Evidence Lab, Johns Hopkins University

Locations Open Index vs. W/W Change in Daily Cases (as of 13-Jun-20)

Source: UBS Evidence Lab, Homebase at https://joinhomebase.com/data, Johns Hopkins University

Note: Business locations are indexed to median for that day of the week in January 2020 and are a 7-day rolling average; daily cases are calculated as a 7-day rolling average