As Manatee County’s three major hospitals are nearing capacity, they are leaning on both the state of Florida and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) for help. 

According to data collected by county staff, on July 22, there were 11 beds – and just one ICU bed – available across all three hospitals. 

Kevin DiLallo, CEO of Manatee Memorial Hospital, says they actually have more space available in the hospital but do not have the number of staff members required to open the additional beds. 

“People need rest. We’ve had some employees get sick,” he said. 

Manatee Memorial Hospital requested help from the state, and next week, it expects to get 10 additional nurses. In the coming weeks, the hospital will get more nurses and respiratory therapists from outside staffing agencies. 

As of Thursday morning, Manatee Memorial Hospital had 75 confirmed COVID-19 patients. DiLallo says, with the additional staff members coming to assist, he’s confident that the hospital can handle an additional influx of patients, should it happen. 

“We thought back in March and April that 35 in house was something that was going to affect us greatly, and we were trying to figure out how to deal with it.” He said. "Now we have 75 in house, so you adjust to what you have.” 

While a report from the county showed Blake Medical Center had zero hospital beds available on Wednesday, CEO Randy Currin says they have space should anyone need to visit them. 

Blake Medical Center also requested outside help to assist with staffing shortages. 

On Thursday, Currin said they had a number of nurses from FEMA begin at the hospital, which has helped them greatly. 

“We definitely have a better handle on it than we did a week ago, and I expect things to continue over the next week,” Currin stated. 

The latest data shows that roughly one half of the ICU beds at Manatee Memorial Hospital are being taken by COVID-19 patients, while just over one third of the patients at Blake Medical Center’s ICU have been diagnosed with COVID-19.