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Counties with the lowest hospital bed capacity in New Jersey
The vaccine deployment in December 2020 signaled a turning point in the COVID-19 pandemic. By the end of May 2021, 40% of the U.S. population was fully vaccinated. But as vaccination rates lagged over the summer, new surges of COVID-19 came, including Delta in the summer of 2021, and now the Omicron variant, which comprises the majority of cases in the U.S.
Researchers around the world have reported that Omicron is more transmissible than Delta, making breakthrough and repeat infections more likely. Early research suggests this strain may cause less severe illness than Delta and the original virus, however, health officials have warned an Omicron-driven surge could still increase hospitalization and death ratesâ€"especially in areas with less vaccinated populations.
The United States as of Feb. 24 reached 942,985 COVID-19-related deaths and nearly 78.7 million COVID-19 cases, according to Johns Hopkins University. Currently, 64.8% of the population is fully vaccinated, and 43.4% have received booster doses.
Stacker compiled a list of the counties with the lowest in-patient bed capacity in New Jersey using data from the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services and vaccination data from Covid Act Now. Counties are ranked by the percent of in-patient hospital beds filled as of Feb. 23, with the percent of hospital beds filled by COVID-19 patients serving as a tiebreaker. Hospitalization data was available for about 77% of counties in the U.S. Keep reading to see what hospital capacity looks like in your county.
#20. Salem County, NJ
--- 66.3% more availability than New Jersey overall
- ICU beds occupied: 54.0% (0.0% by COVID-19 patients)
--- 37.9% more availability than New Jersey overall
- Cases per 100k in last 7 days: 109 (68 cases)
- Population that is fully vaccinated: 54.5% (33,979 fully vaccinated)
--- -26.5% lower vaccination rate than New Jersey
#19. Bergen County, NJ
--- 38.8% more availability than New Jersey overall
- ICU beds occupied: 38.0% (6.0% by COVID-19 patients)
--- 56.3% more availability than New Jersey overall
- Cases per 100k in last 7 days: 124 (1,158 cases)
- Population that is fully vaccinated: 76.3% (710,965 fully vaccinated)
--- 3.0% higher vaccination rate than New Jersey
#18. Union County, NJ
--- 31.3% more availability than New Jersey overall
- ICU beds occupied: 44.0% (1.0% by COVID-19 patients)
--- 49.4% more availability than New Jersey overall
- Cases per 100k in last 7 days: 386 (2,148 cases)
- Population that is fully vaccinated: 69.9% (388,849 fully vaccinated)
--- -5.7% lower vaccination rate than New Jersey
#17. Passaic County, NJ
--- 26.3% more availability than New Jersey overall
- ICU beds occupied: 52.0% (10.0% by COVID-19 patients)
--- 40.2% more availability than New Jersey overall
- Cases per 100k in last 7 days: 108 (542 cases)
- Population that is fully vaccinated: 68.7% (344,972 fully vaccinated)
--- -7.3% lower vaccination rate than New Jersey
#16. Hunterdon County, NJ
--- 23.8% more availability than New Jersey overall
- ICU beds occupied: 30.0% (9.0% by COVID-19 patients)
--- 65.5% more availability than New Jersey overall
- Cases per 100k in last 7 days: 90 (112 cases)
- Population that is fully vaccinated: 69.8% (86,798 fully vaccinated)
--- -5.8% lower vaccination rate than New Jersey
#15. Burlington County, NJ
--- 22.5% more availability than New Jersey overall
- ICU beds occupied: 43.0% (5.0% by COVID-19 patients)
--- 50.6% more availability than New Jersey overall
- Cases per 100k in last 7 days: 117 (520 cases)
- Population that is fully vaccinated: 73.2% (326,030 fully vaccinated)
--- -1.2% lower vaccination rate than New Jersey
#14. Warren County, NJ
--- 22.5% more availability than New Jersey overall
- ICU beds occupied: 53.0% (2.0% by COVID-19 patients)
--- 39.1% more availability than New Jersey overall
- Cases per 100k in last 7 days: 117 (123 cases)
- Population that is fully vaccinated: 67.1% (70,591 fully vaccinated)
--- -9.4% lower vaccination rate than New Jersey
#13. Hudson County, NJ
--- 21.3% more availability than New Jersey overall
- ICU beds occupied: 43.0% (4.0% by COVID-19 patients)
--- 50.6% more availability than New Jersey overall
- Cases per 100k in last 7 days: 141 (948 cases)
- Population that is fully vaccinated: 76.1% (511,770 fully vaccinated)
--- 2.7% higher vaccination rate than New Jersey
#12. Atlantic County, NJ
--- 21.3% more availability than New Jersey overall
- ICU beds occupied: 61.0% (7.0% by COVID-19 patients)
--- 29.9% more availability than New Jersey overall
- Cases per 100k in last 7 days: 86 (226 cases)
- Population that is fully vaccinated: 65.5% (172,811 fully vaccinated)
--- -11.6% lower vaccination rate than New Jersey
#11. Camden County, NJ
--- 17.5% more availability than New Jersey overall
- ICU beds occupied: 43.0% (3.0% by COVID-19 patients)
--- 50.6% more availability than New Jersey overall
- Cases per 100k in last 7 days: 111 (561 cases)
- Population that is fully vaccinated: 67.6% (342,412 fully vaccinated)
--- -8.8% lower vaccination rate than New Jersey
#10. Sussex County, NJ
--- 17.5% more availability than New Jersey overall
- ICU beds occupied: 46.0% (5.0% by COVID-19 patients)
--- 47.1% more availability than New Jersey overall
- Cases per 100k in last 7 days: 113 (159 cases)
- Population that is fully vaccinated: 61.9% (86,946 fully vaccinated)
--- -16.5% lower vaccination rate than New Jersey
#9. Cumberland County, NJ
--- 17.5% more availability than New Jersey overall
- ICU beds occupied: 54.0% (26.0% by COVID-19 patients)
--- 37.9% more availability than New Jersey overall
- Cases per 100k in last 7 days: 265 (396 cases)
- Population that is fully vaccinated: 50.9% (76,145 fully vaccinated)
--- -31.3% lower vaccination rate than New Jersey
#8. Ocean County, NJ
--- 16.3% more availability than New Jersey overall
- ICU beds occupied: 29.0% (6.0% by COVID-19 patients)
--- 66.7% more availability than New Jersey overall
- Cases per 100k in last 7 days: 108 (654 cases)
- Population that is fully vaccinated: 53.5% (325,042 fully vaccinated)
--- -27.8% lower vaccination rate than New Jersey
#7. Cape May County, NJ
--- 16.3% more availability than New Jersey overall
- ICU beds occupied: 49.0% (3.0% by COVID-19 patients)
--- 43.7% more availability than New Jersey overall
- Cases per 100k in last 7 days: 73 (67 cases)
- Population that is fully vaccinated: 72.6% (66,841 fully vaccinated)
--- -2.0% lower vaccination rate than New Jersey
#6. Middlesex County, NJ
--- 13.8% more availability than New Jersey overall
- ICU beds occupied: 40.0% (6.0% by COVID-19 patients)
--- 54.0% more availability than New Jersey overall
- Cases per 100k in last 7 days: 138 (1,142 cases)
- Population that is fully vaccinated: 72.4% (597,176 fully vaccinated)
--- -2.3% lower vaccination rate than New Jersey
#5. Morris County, NJ
--- 13.8% more availability than New Jersey overall
- ICU beds occupied: 50.0% (2.0% by COVID-19 patients)
--- 42.5% more availability than New Jersey overall
- Cases per 100k in last 7 days: 127 (625 cases)
- Population that is fully vaccinated: 76.6% (376,622 fully vaccinated)
--- 3.4% higher vaccination rate than New Jersey
#4. Somerset County, NJ
--- 10.0% more availability than New Jersey overall
- ICU beds occupied: 30.0% (11.0% by COVID-19 patients)
--- 65.5% more availability than New Jersey overall
- Cases per 100k in last 7 days: 122 (401 cases)
- Population that is fully vaccinated: 75.0% (246,648 fully vaccinated)
--- 1.2% higher vaccination rate than New Jersey
#3. Essex County, NJ
--- 7.5% more availability than New Jersey overall
- ICU beds occupied: 49.0% (5.0% by COVID-19 patients)
--- 43.7% more availability than New Jersey overall
- Cases per 100k in last 7 days: 119 (949 cases)
- Population that is fully vaccinated: 70.8% (565,340 fully vaccinated)
--- -4.5% lower vaccination rate than New Jersey
#2. Mercer County, NJ
--- 7.5% more availability than New Jersey overall
- ICU beds occupied: 73.0% (5.0% by COVID-19 patients)
--- 16.1% more availability than New Jersey overall
- Cases per 100k in last 7 days: 113 (416 cases)
- Population that is fully vaccinated: 69.5% (255,473 fully vaccinated)
--- -6.2% lower vaccination rate than New Jersey
#1. Monmouth County, NJ
--- 5.0% more availability than New Jersey overall
- ICU beds occupied: 37.0% (9.0% by COVID-19 patients)
--- 57.5% more availability than New Jersey overall
- Cases per 100k in last 7 days: 99 (613 cases)
- Population that is fully vaccinated: 67.2% (415,538 fully vaccinated)
--- -9.3% lower vaccination rate than New Jersey