Hospitals in Cedar Rapids are worried about not being able to keep up with COVID-19 coronavirus cases. KCRG-TV9 reports Mercy Medical Center and Saint Luke's Hospital say they'll only be able to take on more and more patients if the spread of the virus slows down.
The hospitals say they have over 100 ventilators between the two of them, but that they need more. Both hospitals also say they're running out of space.
The number of confirmed cases rose from two on Saturday to 12 on Thursday. “The rate that we’re doubling will overwhelm the hospitals in the next two to three weeks. We have to do better,” Dr. Tony Myers, vice president of medical affairs at Mercy Medical Center, said at a Thursday news conference.
Mercy and St. Luke’s say they’re prepared to take care of more patients, but only if the virus’ spread slows down.
Dr. Dustin Arnold, chief medical officer at St. Luke’s, tells KCRG-TV9 everyone is susceptible to being infected with the COVID-19 strain of the coronavirus because it’s a novel virus, and that the rate of infection is higher than other illnesses, like the flu.
“For every infectious person that comes in contact with a susceptible, four people get sick, and then that person gets four more people sick,” Arnold says.
On Wednesday, Gov. Kim Reynolds said there are 280 ventilators that are available to be used in Iowa. Mercy and St. Luke’s have “well over” 100 ventilators between the two of them, according to Arnold, and both have requested more.
(Photo: Mary Green KCRG-TV)