Luke’s and Essentia Health are facing extremely high volumes of patients needing hospitalization, which is causing backups and a strain on resources, health care experts said in a Tuesday morning news conference.
Anne Stephen, chief medical officer of Essentia Health’s East Market, described the situation as "critical." She said Essentia has 129 COVID-19 patients, 59 of which are at St.
The physicians at the news conference said patients infected with the delta variant of the coronavirus are bringing in-patient bed demand to a tipping point, because COVID-19 patients are filling beds already in high demand by other patients in need of emergency medical care.
Christina Bastin de Jong, a critical care physician at Essentia, said they work to get the most critically ill patients to Duluth as soon as possible.
Luke’s patients have been diverted out of the region for care.
Bastin de Jong said the number of diverted Essentia patients was similar.
COVID-19 testing is not an emergency situation, he said, and people seeking testing should visit the Duluth Entertainment Convention Center, pharmacies or other testing sites — not emergency rooms
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