Decatur Covid Unit

Treating overflow coronavirus patients.

Has more than 26 hundred confirmed deaths.

Youre taking a live look this morning over decatur where the decatur morgan hospital is gearing up to open a new coronavirus unit and working to get a new i-c-u facility waay 31's ashley carter joins us live now.

Ashley why did the hospital feel like these facilities were needed?

Right now the hospital is seeing more coronavirus patients then they've seen since july and hospital leaders do anticipate they will see even more patients in the next couple of months.

The president of decatur morgan hospital kelli powers says they only have one i-c-u bed available and out of the 18 i- c-u patients in the hospital...5 of those are coronavirus patients powers says it's forced the hospitalto make some adjustments inclding opening up the new coronavirus unit on the parkway campus in order to free up some space in their i-c-u but...she says now they are dealing with the difficulties of hiring nurses because of the nationwide nursing shortage ""we've actually had to go out and offer a higher rate of pay to these nurses to get them for a two-year commitment."

Powers says the new clinic will add up to 36 beds for covid- 19 patients and 12 i-c-u beds could also become available in the new i-c-u facility powers says the hospital has applied for money from fema to pay for the new i-c-u and they should hear back in a couple of weeks.

Between the covid unit and the new i-c-u 100 jobs would be brought to morgan county.

Live in madison co ashley c waay 31 news