A hospital does not “keep its census low.” In fact, one of the key metrics in hospitals is the turnover time. You are being timed from the second the doc puts in a discharge order to when a new body is in your bed.
And the ICU is first come, first served. They don’t hold beds for people who “might” show up sick.
Under normal circumstances, that’s true. But we’ve received emails saying they’re gearing up, and they can reduce occupied ICU beds by postponing elective surgeries that they know will result in ICU stays.