Ballad Health official says enacting second virus surge plan a possibility due to rising cases

Officials with Ballad Health are closely monitoring hospitalizations as an increase in patients puts the system closer to its second surge plan.

As of Wednesday, Ballad said they have 117 patients hospitalized, while another 40 are under investigation awaiting test results. The system is already in its first surge plan, which increased COVID bed capacity to around 165 available beds.

The second surge plan would see the system have to make up to 215 total COVID beds available. Chief Physician Executive Dr. Clay Runnels says Ballad is on standby should they need to employ those operations.

Runnels says in order for the growing hospitalization rate to reverse course, growth of new cases need to trend down for at least the next two weeks or longer for any noticeable impact to be felt.

(PHOTO: Associated Press)