Surge in COVID-19 cases has Reid Health at 'critical' level of bed availability

Jason Truitt, (Richmond) Palladium-Item

Sunday, November 8, 2020 7:14 PM

RICHMOND — Wayne County's fall surge in COVID-19 cases is straining resources at Reid Health and could force the hospital to divert patients elsewhere if the rise continues unabated.

Reid is at "critical" bed status after the health system set a record Friday with 68 patients in containment areas. The previous high of 64 came in the pandemic's early days back in the first week of April.

On Thursday, the hospital had a record number of daily COVID admissions (20), contributing to an overall record of one-day admissions (63).

Dr. Thomas Huth, Reid's vice president of medical affairs, is afraid those records won't last long.

"We are asking everyone to please, please not ignore masking, distancing and other safety measures," he said.

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