A survey of Nebraska hospitals on Monday reported only 21 percent of the intensive care beds were available and rural hospitals that were running out of room were having trouble finding places they could transfer patients to.

If the current COVID-19 spread trend continues the total number of cases in Nebraska is expected to double every three weeks. This trend alarms hospital officials who are wondering how they can treat not only the COVID patients but their regular load of patients with more normal problems like accidents and heart attacks.

In recent days Brodstone Memorial Hospital’s...