Dothan Hospital Suspends Elective Surgeries Because of COVID-19 Spike

A hospital in Dothan says it’s suspending elective surgeries because of an increase in cases of COVID-19 patients needing care.

Southeast Health announced the cutback in a statement that includes a plea for residents to wear face masks and take other safety steps.

Some hospitals already have canceled elective surgeries and other procedures. The Alabama Hospital Association says intensive care units statewide were the most crowded since the pandemic began on Wednesday. Just 7% of the state’s state’s roughly 1,700 ICU beds were available.

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