Saint Mary’s Regional Medical Center is extending its postponement of some elective surgeries as COVID-19 continues to threaten hospital capacity.
The Reno hospital initially announced on Dec. 2 that it was postponing some surgeries for two weeks, citing “capacity challenges” from the pandemic. Washoe County is in the midst of a surge in COVID cases, with November breaking multiple records for case counts and deaths. Area medical centers also raised alarms in early November that hospital capacity in Reno, Sparks and Carson City is “on the verge of being overwhelmed.”
Earlier this month, Saint Mary’s described the postponement of some surgeries as a necessary step to ensure that it can continue to provide care to the community.