Serving Clovis, Portales and the Surrounding Communities
Serving Clovis, Portales and the Surrounding Communities
Eleven confirmed COVID-19 patients were in the Clovis hospital Friday morning, including four in intensive care.
It’s the largest number of covid patients admitted to Plains Regional Medical Center at one time since the pandemic began, PRMC interim chief executive Jorge Cruz wrote in an email to The News.
Officials have scheduled a press conference for 2 p.m. today to address “the increasing number of positive COVID-19 cases in the area.” The press conference will be streamed live on Suddenlink Channel 10 or the city of Clovis’ Facebook page.
PRMC on Thursday changed its hospital visitor policy, and is “not allowing regular visitation at this time.”
A notice posted on the hospital’s website reported “Adult visitors may be approved in certain situations,” but also said “Visitors will not be allowed for patients with COVID-19 or those patients who are under investigation for the virus, except in specific situations.”
Cruz wrote in the email to The News that the change in policy was due to “the current increase in cases in New Mexico.”
Curry County has seen its heaviest surge of COVID-19 since the pandemic began in recent weeks. The number of positive test results went from 854 on Oct. 1 to 1,397 on Thursday. The region has recorded five covid-related deaths this week -- two in Curry County, two in Parmer County and one in Roosevelt County.
Cruz said the Clovis hospital has 68 medical-surgical beds and 12 ICU beds. “About 60 percent of med-surge beds are available,” he said this morning. “We do have capacity right now and will be able to expand in a number of ways if needed.”
Also, if needed, Cruz said PRMC can accommodate any additional surge in patients even if PRMC exceeds capacity.
“Yes, throughout the Presbyterian system, we would accommodate a surge in patients due to COVID-19 through triage and appropriate transfers to other facilities in New Mexico,” he wrote.
“There is a statewide command center to manage hospital capacity while ensuring that all patients receive safe, timely care and that no one hospital becomes overwhelmed by COVID-19 patients.”
Cruz did not answer a question about staff contracting the virus, but did say, “We are comfortable with staffing at this time.”
We will have additional information as it becomes available.
