Hospitals Prove Worth During Outbreak

7B WIRE - Hospitals nationwide are doing their part during the coronavirus crisis and demonstrating their value to the communities they serve.

Locally in Bonner County, where the pandemic has infected as many as four citizens, healthcare providers have responded by testing patients, hoping the test did not result in a false positive, and sending the infected home to rest, self medicate, and hopefully self quarantine.

Heart attack and stroke victims are being admitted and treated, but only after undergoing a test for COVID-19 and waiting forty-eight hours for the results, sequestered to a tented quarantine area in the south parking lot where they are given a painter's mask to help fend off the virus.

To do their part, the hospital has eliminated all elective surgery, closed four departments, and dismissed all essential workers, adding to the growing unemployment rate. Emergency departments remain fully staffed but under-utilized, as the general public seems to not be getting hurt or sick any more.

A local man seen driving toward the ER was interviewed before he quickly changed his mind and drove off, stating “I think I twisted my ankle. I was gonna go in and get checked out, but then I remembered the flu. Normally I would go to the ER and ask for some Percocet or Oxycontin, but because of the virus I think I’ll just hobble into Super 1 and buy a bag of frozen peas, some limes, and a six-pack of Corona for the pain.”