At least 3,000 hospital beds available for New Mexico coronavirus patients

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At least 3,000 hospital beds are available statewide in New Mexico if patients with the coronavirus need them, according to the New Mexico Department of Health. Currently there are five confirmed cases of the coronavirus in the state, according to health officials. All those affected are self-quarantined at home.

Health department officials say the bed availability is changing minute by minute, but of those 3,000 beds, at least 1,000 of them are in Albuquerque.

"We have the capability, if there were indeed a surge in demand for in-patient beds, to begin to triage patients to other sites of care, within our own organizations or regionally within the area, if need be," said Dr. David Pitcher, at the University of New Mexico Hospital.

When it comes to the number of ventilators, a health department spokesperson said that many hospitals, long-term care and other facilities have their own ventilators, and "if the need in the state exceeds our capabilities, there are additional resources available to us if needed, including the Federal Strategic National Stockpile."

The department is working on getting drive-through testing sites set up across the state, but there is one up and running right now in Gallup, operated by the Indian Health Service.

https://www.koat.com/article/at-least-3000-hospital-beds-available-for-new-mexico-coronavirus-patients/31455498

[duforsure]

1. Each state better have plans for beds , ventilators, and skilled help ready

And it could be a lot higher needed then 3,000 beds. When trump is finally putting out test kits in high numbers we'll see an huge increase in people having it. The same has happened elsewhere.