With Spread Of Coronavirus, There Are Concerns About Hospital Capacity

Stephanie Stahl reports.

PENNSYLVANIANS SHOULD STAYCALM, STAY HOME AND STAY SAFE.WITH THE SPREAD THERE AREGROWING CONCERNS ABOUTHOSPITAL CAPACITY, ANDEQUIPMENT SHORTAGES.HEALTH REPORT ARE STEPHANIESTAHL IS IN ANOTHER PART OFTHE STUDIO WITH INFORMATION ONTHE SITUATION FOR SOME OF OURLOCAL PENNSYLVANIA HOSPITALS.PEOPLE ON THE FRONT LINESARE WORRIED, HOSPITALS ARESEEING A SURGE OF PATIENTS,AND A SHORTAGE OF PROTECTIVEGEAR.OFFICIALS SAY TO GET MOREPEOPLE SCREENED, THE STATEWILL NOW SET UP MORE TESTINGSPOTS THAT ARE EXPECTED TOOPEN UP NEXT WEEK.SIMILAR TO WHAT WAS SET UP INNEW ROCHELLE NEW YORKPENNSYLVANIA OFFICIALS AREEXPECT TO OPEN UP TWO MASSTESTING SITES FOR COVID 19.ONE IN MONTGOMERY COUNTY,OTHER IN PHILADELPHIA,PROBABLY AT THE SPORTS COMPLEXSITES IN SOUTH PHILADELPHIA.IT IS DESPERATELY NEEDED BYHOSPITALS.THEY ARE BEING BOMBARDED WITHPATIENTS.MANY RESORTED TO DRIVE THROUGHTESTING TO STOP THE SPREAD OFCOVID 19 INSIDE ALREADYCROWDED HOSPITALS.I WOULD STATE MY PERSONNELAND MY SUPPLIES AND MY TESTSFOR PATIENTS THAT END UP IN MYEMERGENCY ROOM AND MY URGENTCARE AND IN MY IN PATIENTBEDS.REPORTER: JACLYN MUCH,PRESIDENT OF THE MAIN LINEHEALTH SAID THEY HAVE 40PATIENTS HOSPITALIZED,LANKENAU, WRITTEN MAUR, PAOLIWITH POSITIVE AND PRESUMEDPOSITIVE CASES OF COVID 19.THEY ARE CARED FOR INSPECIALIZED ROOMS TO PROTECTSTAFF AND OTHER PATIENTS BUTTHERE ARE LIMITED SUPPLIES OFPROTECTIVE EQUIPMENTESPECIALLY MASKS.WE ARE TRYING IN THE TO USETHE HIGHEST LEVEL OF EVERYSINGLE POTENTIAL RISK, TOENSURE THAT WE HAVE THOSEMASKS AVAILABLE FOR THE MORESERIOUS AND HIGHER RISKPROCEDURES AND PATIENTS.REPORTER: MEDICAL SUPPLIESARE A BIG CONCERN EVERY WHEREAS MORE HOSPITAL WORKERS ARENOW TESTING POSITIVE, WHETHERTHEY ARE EXPOSED INSIDE OF THEHOSPITAL OR THE COMMUNITY, ITCOULD RESULT IN STAFFINGSHORTAGES, TOO.PEOPLE WILL GET SICK ANDHAVE EXPOSURE.WE GET SIDE LINE.WHO IS THERE TO TAKE CARE OFTHE PATIENT.HEALTH OFFICIALS AREPLEADING WITH PEOPLE TO STAYHOME TO HELP CONTAIN THESPREAD, AND THEY REMINDEVERYBODY TESTING IS STILLLIMITED AND ONLY FOR PEOPLEWITH SYMPTOMS OF A FEVER,