2 North Texas hospitals temporarily close emergency rooms, citing increase in COVID-19 cases

Highlighting the dramatic increase in COVID-19 cases, two hospital systems announced Friday the closure of emergency rooms at the Rockwall and Commerce facilities in order to redirect staff to other campuses.

The Texas Health Hospital System said its North Rockwall emergency on Lakeshore Drive would close at midnight Friday. Staff are dispatched to the system’s main campus on Horizon Road to help treat COVID-19 patients there.

Texas Health said it will continue to care for people already in the Lakeshore Drive emergency room and those arriving before midnight.

Earlier on Friday, the Hunt Regional Health Care System said the commercial Hunt Regional Emergency Medical Center would close at midnight due to a “critical increase in COVID.” Staff are redirected to the Hunt Regional Medical Center in Greenville.

“We are in a public health crisis and need your help,” Hunt’s regional system said in a Facebook post. “If you haven’t been vaccinated, please do so as soon as possible. Wear a mask indoors and avoid non-essential gatherings. “

Hunt Regional Healthcare said it hopes to reopen Commerce ER by the end of the month. He urges people in a medical emergency to call 911 or go to the emergency room or clinics in Greenville or Quinlan.