Hospitals employ about 2% fewer people today than they did in March 2020, according to the federal Bureau of Labor Statistics. That may not seem like much, but for many facilities, it makes a big difference. Crucially, experienced nurses have been quitting in search of better pay, less stressful jobs and more time with their families. In some cases, they’ve also sought to avoid required COVID-19 vaccinations.

Last month, about 4% fewer hospital beds were staffed in Michigan than in November 2021, when 21,071 were staffed, according to the Michigan Health and Hospital Association, which advocates for hospitals in the state.

In upstate New York, hospital capacity has shrunk by 10%, The New York Times recently reported. And about 9% fewer intensive care beds were staffed in Colorado last month than the same time last year, according to state data.