LAS VEGAS (KTNV) — Nevada hospitals continue to fill up amid a steady rise in COVID-19 cases as fears of another surge of the virus could come after the holidays.
According to the Nevada Hospital Association, 427 patients that are confirmed or suspected of having COVID-19 are in an intensive care unit.
Dr. Daliah Wachs says Nevada intensive care units are facing a harsh future.
“We are not adequately prepared, we need our hospitals open for trauma,” says Dr. Wachs.
Nevada has already intensified the battle against the virus.
In Reno, a COVID-19 overflow facility opened in Renown Hospital’s parking garage to keep ICU patients inside.
“Hospitals around the state have been looking at their medical surge plans and implementing those plans moving forward,” says Caleb Cage, Nevada’s COVID-19 response director.
A surge plan is already in place at University Medical Center in Las Vegas.
A spokesperson from UMC says that their in-patient admissions have “stabilized” in recent weeks and that they are prepared for a potential post-holiday surge.
“January is always one of our worst months for flu, pneumonia, it’s because people came back from travel,” says Dr. Wachs.
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