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Hospitals slow elective procedures as COVID-19 cases spike
Justin Matthews reports
TAMPA, Fla. - BayCare Health System says it will reduce the number of non-urgent surgeries it performs to free up space for severely ill COVID-19 patients.
Monday's announcement said the changes will affect patients in Hillsborough and Polk counties.
BayCare said the temporary change is effective Thursday, July 16, at 5 p.m. and impacts all six of BayCare’s Hillsborough hospitals: St. Joseph’s, St. Joseph’s Children’s, St. Joseph’s Women’s in Tampa; St. Joseph’s-North in Lutz; St. Joseph’s-South in Riverview; and South Florida Baptist in Plant City, as well as three hospitals in Polk County: Winter Haven, Winter Haven Women’s and Bartow Regional Medical Center.
Surgeries for life-threatening situations will continue, BayCare said.
In a statement, BayCare said, "unlike the state-mandated ban on elective surgeries earlier this year, BayCare’s effort will still allow many non-urgent surgeries and procedures to continue. Generally, surgeries that could be deferred are those that are not medically urgent and require overnight recovery in the hospital."
RELATED: HCA follows BayCare in pausing some non-emergency procedures in Pinellas County
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Capacity in Bay Area hospitals are starting to dwindle
Justin Matthews reports
BayCare said available hospital bed capacity has declined "significantly due to rising COVID-19 cases" in Hillsborough, Pinellas, Polk and Pasco counties.
The same rules are already in effect at BayCare's Pinellas County facilities and Morton Plant North Bay Hospital in Pasco County.
If you feel sick:
The Florida Department of Health has opened a COVID-19 Call Center at 1-866-779-6121. Agents will answer questions around the clock. Questions may also be emailed to covid-19@flhealth.gov. Email responses will be sent during call center hours.
LINK: Florida's COVID-19 website
CORONAVIRUS IN FLORIDA: What you need to know
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