Sparrow Hospital is at 100% capacity as COVID-19 continues to surge in Michigan

LANSING — Sparrow Hospital in Lansing is at 100% capacity and has implemented its surge plan, a spokesperson confirmed Tuesday.

"We've been at 100% for a couple days now," spokesperson John Foren said. "We've got lots of options for space and we're working on them now."

The coronavirus pandemic has surged in Michigan again this spring, more than a year after the state identified its first cases. 

Michigan has the worst COVID-19 rate in the country in the last seven days, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Almost 50,000 people have tested positive in the last week. 

"Our COVID numbers are near their peak where they were during the surge in November-December," Foren said. "The one bright spot is, it appears, in the last few days the numbers have gone down slightly."

From November:Lansing nurses, already drained, are anxious about COVID-19 surge

All of the roughly 390 adult licensed beds at Sparrow Hospital are full. The hospital has set up 73 overflow beds, 50 of which are full, Foren said. There were 124 COVID-19 patients at the hospital as of Tuesday morning. 

Sparrow officials can add more overflow beds at the Lansing facility and send patients to Sparrow community hospitals in Ionia, Carson City, Eaton County and Clinton County. There were 15 COVID-19 patients at Sparrow community hospitals as of Tuesday morning. 

To manage the surge, Sparrow is limiting transfer patients from other facilities. 

"We have capacity and continue to service patients who come through our own emergency room and affiliate hospitals," he said. "But, again, we cannot accept patients from any other means. They have to come through our own [emergency department] and our affiliates."

Hospital staff is working additional hours to manage the surge in patients, Foren said. 

"Any of the front-line people who I saw [working on a COVID-19 unit] this morning will tell you 'please get your vaccine, please be vigilant, don't let your guard down,'" Foren said. 

McLaren Greater Lansing was at 92% capacity with 48 COVID-19 patients as of Tuesday at 2 p.m., according to state coronavirus data.

More:With expanded eligibility, health officials shift focus to vaccinating young adults against COVID-19

Contact Carol Thompson at ckthompson@lsj.com. Follow her on Twitter @thompsoncarolk.