Despite the short-term nature of pandemics, it is clear that we are not out of the woods just yet as it concerns COVID.  The virus that began in 2019 is still a factor in certain hot zones, including at least 5 U.S. states.  Michigan, for example, is currently experiencing the biggest surge in cases—despite its history of mask mandates and rigid lockdowns.  This raises the question of how American hospitals, as a group, are handling the 2021 version of COVID.  One government agency decided to get some answers to that question.