Can you only stay in icu with a ventilator?

No. Wearing a ventilator is not the only way to stay in the ICU; a ventilator is a medical device that is used to support a patient's breathing. While ventilators are typically used in high-level medical facilities such as ICUs, there are special circumstances in which ventilators can be used in other medical settings, such as emergency rooms, operating rooms, rehabilitation centers, nursing homes, and more.