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.

Lafayette hospitals ‘under extreme pressure’ with surge of COVID patients, ill frontline workers.
Vigo County’s two hospitals ‘stretched’ as COVID-19 cases rise to new weekly record of 351
Rising COVID-19 cases put Elkhart County "down a bad path;' local doctors ask business and industrial leaders for help
A COVID 'superspreader' event has sidelined nurses in St. Joseph County, health officials say
Hoosier hospitals straining to keep up with COVID-19 patient loads, Indiana Hospital Association warns
Goshen doctor says Monday 'most dangerous day' yet for COVID-19 locally
Schneck Medical Center in Seymour to begin prioritizing surgeries and procedures due to COVID-19
Local hospitals face looming COVID 'catastrophe,' leaders say, as Indiana sets restrictions
Hospitalizations triple in northeast Indiana since Oct. 1, capacity shifting and shrinking

Related Sites

Palladium-Item full text

HOME

Editor, John C. DePrez Jr.; Executive Editor, Carol Rogers; Publishers: IBRC and IAR