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Baxter Regional Medical Center announced late Thursday evening that it could finally shut down its COVID-19 Unit for a second time as COVID-19 numbers continue to drop throughout the state.
The unit, which initially closed in March 2021, was forced to reopen a few months following a large case spike.
“Baxter Regional Medical Center accomplished an exciting milestone this week!” Baxter Regional Medical Center said in an email Thursday evening. “After converting an existing unit to one exclusively for COVID-19 patients in 2020, we were able to close it in March 2021. Unfortunately, our COVID-19 Unit was reopened, but we are happy to share that it is once again closed as of Thursday, February 24.”
COVID-19 cases have seen a decline in Baxter County over the past few weeks, with Baxter Regional only reporting five hospitalizations during its weekly update this week. There are currently 88 COVID-19 cases being tracked in Baxter County.
BRMC reports that three of their COVID patients were currently on ventilators. During their weekly update, hospital officials said the decline in cases was encouraging, but community members should still take caution.
BRMC’s COVID-19 Unit featured 32 beds and housed up to 35 people at a time during Baxter County’s worst run of the virus. With the closure of the unit, the hospital will rely on its 17 ICU beds and its 10 negative chamber rooms to treat those diagnosed with COVID-19.
BRMC can spin up their COVID unit at any time if more beds are needed.
