Butler Memorial Hospital has beds available in its medical/surgical and intensive care units, but could have more capacity if it weren't for a staffing shortage.

As of Friday, 10 adult COVID-19 patients are in the hospital's 24 adult ICU beds, and seven COVID-19 patients are among the eight patients using the hospital's 22 ventilators, according to the state Department of Health.

Six more ICU beds could be used if the need arises, said Dr. David Rottinghaus, Butler Health System chief medical officer.

The hospital is currently treating 54 COVID-19 patients, according to the department.

In January, when COVID-19 cases were surging, the hospital had about 20 more inpatients everyday and had 50 to 55 ICU beds available, but didn't use all of them, Rottinghaus said.

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