The number of people hospitalized in Florida has climbed steeply over the past month, reaching 3,849 on July 17, the largest tally since late February, according to a data dashboard created by Dr. Salemi. Patients are skewing younger, with 53% under age 60, compared with 30% at the start of the year…

Memorial Healthcare System in the Fort Lauderdale area has 246 Covid-19 patients, 98% of whom are unvaccinated, said Chief Operating Officer Leah Carpenter. That is well below the 674 patients the hospital network had a year ago, but the numbers are increasing far more quickly, she said. Two of its four adult acute-care hospitals are over capacity.

Memorial is converting spaces like a conference center and an auditorium into additional patient-care areas, Ms. Carpenter said. And it is trying to address personnel shortages by offering bonuses and incentive pay, as well as by working with a staffing agency.