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GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. (KKCO) – As of November 18, there are currently no intensive care beds available in Mesa County as COVID-19 continues to spread rapidly in the community, leading to an increase in hospitalizations.
As of Wednesday, 232 new cases of the virus were reported by the Mesa County Public Health Department (MCPH) and 51 people (Mesa County and other county residents) are still hospitalized with COVID-19 in the county.
MCPH said hospitals in the area will start activating surge capacity, which will open more rooms and beds.
“We have hospital beds available and we have contingency plans in place that will allow us to increase our capacity and ensure safe, quality care for as many patients as needed,” said Bryan Johnson , president of St. Mary’s Medical Center.
With widespread transmission of the virus in the community, hospitals are now reaching critical thresholds for staff as infected hospital workers have to self-isolate, rendering them unable to care for patients.
“It’s a call to arms,” said Richard Salgueiro, executive director of the VA Western Colorado Health System, of staffing issues. Salgueiro encourages all retired or displaced clinical staff in the community to intervene if possible.
MCPH estimates that 1 and 130 residents of Mesa County are currently infected with the virus and says more than 2,000 residents have tested positive in the past two weeks.
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