The Valleywise Health network of hospitals is experiencing a staffing shortage amid an increase of COVID-19 patients needing intensive care. 

There are 160 open nursing positions across the hospital network.

Vallewise says its ICUs are tremendously busy, and staff shortages are putting increased stress on current employees.

Chief Clinical Officer Dr. Michael White says the patients taking up ICU beds are trending younger.

“We are seeing more pediatric patients requiring hospitalization than we had been seeing in the earlier portions of this within the pandemic,” he said.

White said if the numbers continue to rise they will have to open new intensive care units.

Valleywise is starting to compile the numbers of breakthrough cases, but White said more than 95% of the people in its hospitals with COVID are not vaccinated.