Using NYC former Covid ground zero for t he US as an example. Not a single one of the city owned hospitals have added any capacity or hired any nurses. In fact they have had to lay off nurses.Hospitals have been hiring, or at least trying to, and adding capacity. Capacity isn’t limited just by staffing. When people are being treated in hallways there’s more than just a shortage of staff. Even if every hospital decided to add a new wing to deal with COVID-19 last year they still wouldn’t be open by now. It also wouldn’t address things like the shortages of supplies and equipment.
Adding physical capacity doesn’t necessarily mean building wings. Converting standard rooms into ICU rooms, purchasing additional equipment, etc. (Don’t give me BS about shortages) They’ve had over a year and a half to procure equipment and prepare.