We’re seeing patients in ER waiting rooms and hallways.” Everyone from directors and managers are working the floors when they normally wouldn’t be. “We’re not just low on beds, we’re low on staff. 16, so we’ll be using the tent as long as needed,” Jolly said. With 61 COVID-19 patients being treated now, hospital officials believe they will exceed that number in the next 48 hours. Waiting rooms are being used for triage and could eventually be used as a medical ward.”ĬOVID-19 sparked the crisis and will likely eclipse the record of 63 infected patients the hospital treated in January.
“The ICU is full and so are the emergency rooms. “This is an emergency and has been since the weekend,” Jolly said. CCMH had two COVID-19-related hospitalizations at the end of July. Meanwhile, the hospital shows 61 COVID-19 patients in the hospital with 49 of them unvaccinated. Thirteen of the 14 patients in ICU beds are unvaccinated, records show. 7, all intensive care unit beds were full, according to the hospital’s website. Whether it’s used to treat patients will be determined at a later time,” she said.Īs of Sept. “Right now, it’s being used to help with the overflow of people waiting to be seen in the emergency department. Use of the 19-foot by 36-foot medical tent, provided by the Oklahoma State Department of Health, was prompted by an influx of COVID-19 patients and others with non-COVID-19 illnesses, said hospital spokeswoman Nicole Jolly. The scene at CCMH has been described by a hospital spokeswoman as a large-scale “medical emergency” that will likely last for several days, if not weeks. LAWTON - COVID-19 cases have increased more than 3000% at Comanche County Memorial Hospital since the end of July, prompting state and local officials to erect a large tent to be used as an additional emergency room waiting area for the foreseeable future.